Important cereal the north, considered as delicacy. Good forage grass; leaves and culms mixed with mud used for the fabrication of wall. Many uses in the local pharmecopedy such as against bilharziosis, against taenia, a mixture with karate butter and others against lepra and abdominal tumors, mixed with parkia against yellow fever.
Vern. & Uses: Fonio (French), white fonio, hungry rice (English); acha or acha (Irvine 2622); fonio (foulfouldé); fénhe, fim, finhe (Balanta); fundo (Crioula); f-onio (Futa-fula); djadje, foheo, fónio (Fula); uante, ôdote, udute (Mancanha); findô (Mandinga); uante, urôte (Manjaco); orrote, rote (Papel).