It costs peanuts - 4th March 2022

Peanut farming is a major source of revenue for the locals of Paoua in the Central African Republic but for many producers, even when there is a good harvest, they face a daily challenge to eke out a living and put food on the table.

The 2013 civil war in the CAR has left the country divided and worsened the situation, especially in the northwest, where Paoua is located.

Surrounded by fighting pro-government and rebel forces, Paoua’s growers face robbery and extortion, not only from fighting factions, but also from bandits.

Jean-Paul Ndopaye manages an Oxfam sponsored peanut stock.

Jean-Paul Ndopaye: "What is preventing us from developing further peanut farming in Paoua is insecurity. When we want to send our goods to Bangui, to Berberati or even to Bouar, we might run into road bandits."

With growers unable to get their produce to market, they're left with no choice but to sell their stock at significantly reduced prices, almost a third of the usual market price. Peanut farmer Célestine Inforo.

Célestine Inforo: "This year, with the insecurity, there have been too many threats and thefts. We had to sell the production very quickly and at low prices. Now, there is a shortage of seeds to replant."

The Central African Republic is one of the world’s most impoverished nations and the World Food Programme has reported an unprecedented crisis of malnutrition in the country's northwest. The majority of people are said to be in phase four of a food emergency, signalling severe malnutrition and a high mortality rate.

Transporting produce to markets has proven to be hazardous and due to this, growers are turning their hands to peanut oil and paste making, but with the lack of any proper infrastructure, the task has to be carried out manually and is done predominantly by women.

Food security officer at Oxfam, Moussa Issoufou, calls for the support of the peanut industry, as it generates income and feeds families in the CAR.

Moussa Issoufou: "The transformation is still at an artisanal stage. We really must try to support the chain and the sector to develop this transformation, and try to create outlets for the flow problems, and create value in the chain of the peanut sector at the level of Paoua which constitutes a large pool of peanut production in the Central African Republic."

Though peanut farming is a ray of hope, more is needed in the fight against malnutrition.