Significant cultivation is in West Africa from Chad to Cape Verde, South Mali, in western Burkina Faso, eastern Senegal, northern Guinea, northern part of Benin Republic, in North Central parts of Nigeria such as northern Plateau State, Southern Kaduna, parts of Niger State, Abuja (FCT), Zuru area of Kebbi State, some parts of Nasarawa State and Kogi State, as well as parts of Bauchi State. It is also found in the south of Niger Republic, where the plant supplies the staple food for several million people. In some regions of Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Nigeria, Fonio is the most important or one of the main cereals. The White Fonio has its main growing region in the highland plateaus of Nigeria, where it is popularly called Acha. The second Fonio species, Iburu or Black Fonio, is limited to the Jos-Bauchi Plateau in Nigeria and the northern regions of Togo and Benin.