Nov. 2014—In southern Guinea, many poor families have a small amount of land to grow food and constantly struggle to feed themselves. Telimélé's climate is tropical and humid, with regular rainfall during the growing season. The main economic agricultural activity is pepper farming. However, the environment is perfect for another crop with export potential—ginger.

To make the most of the ideal features of the area, in December 2011, USAID sponsored the creation of a ginger farming microenterprise in the region. Ginger is attractive because it requires little farm land, has production expansion potential, and is a lucrative crop that can increase economic opportunities for the community.

Farmers’ groups received improved seed varieties and appropriate training to grow ginger on land loaned by a member of the microenterprise or a private owner with the help of the implementing partner and local authorities. Basic processing and storage facilities and a warehouse help farmers make the most of their harvests.

Today, ginger cultivation is helping individuals from different villages lift themselves and their families out of poverty. The business is growing quickly and has already surpassed pepper farming. Ginger is exported to Senegal, Guinea Bissau and other regions in Guinea. Farmers are using the proceeds to help members access credit, manage loans, and set up their own small businesses. The transparency in managing proceeds and expenditures is praised by the 94 members of the microenterprise, including 68 women. Each member makes an annual profit of about $2,057 (1,440,000 Guinean francs) and about 65 households directly benefit from the microenterprise.

“Ginger growing has made me a well-respected man in the community because I can afford to feed my family and send my kids to school. Our lives have improved,” says Mamadou Oury Diallo.

The effort is part of USAID's Rural Microenterprise Development Guinea project, which runs from December 2011 to November 2015 and is designed to promote the expansion of economic activities to improve the standard of living for 772 households, including entrepreneurial women. Since its launch, the project has identified ways to improve the value and marketing of seven rural microenterprises in Guinea's Fouta Djallon Highlands.

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