July 15, 2021

Groundnuts and happy marriages - What's the connection?

Soy and Oil Seeds

Niger

In Dosso, about 300 km from Niamey, the main activity of the Guidan Gaba women's cooperative revolves around the production and processing of groundnuts. The group has about 122 hectares dedicated solely to the production of groundnuts. The cultivation of groundnuts in these areas is very traditional, and has been passed down from generation to generation. Cultivation practices have changed little. However, with the support of Aïnoma and 2SCALE, habits are beginning to change, and this is more visible in the yields. Depending on the rainy season, harvest that used to be 608 kg per hectare can now range from 715kg to 813 kg per hectare.

For the women of the Guidan Gaba cooperative, groundnuts represent many things.

Salamatou Alou, in her fifties, is an experienced groundnut farmer. For more than 30 years, she has been growing peanuts on a plot of land she inherited from her parents. This morning, we found her in her field, accompanied by some members of the cooperative. It’s the day of sowing her plot. The day before, there was rain. Even if the soil is not completely wet, the rainy season is already announced in these localities.

What links Salamatou to groundnuts?

A mother to six daughters, Salamatou prides herself on her contribution to the marriage of her daughters. Traditionally, in this part of Niger as in others, it is the mother who finances her daughter's wedding trousseau. Having up to six daughters is synonymous with happiness as well as expenses for a mother.

My great pride is to have been able to make the wedding trousseaux of all my daughters thanks to the groundnuts. Indeed, in our culture, it is the woman who provides the furniture for her room at her wedding.

If this great pride of Salamatou lies in the cultivation of groundnuts, it is partly due to the existence of a guaranteed market represented by our champion Aïnoma.

AINOMA provides improved seed to farmers and buys their produce at harvest. A stable and beneficial market for these women who are even considering increasing their cultivable area. Salamatou added:

In the past, we used to buy all kinds of seeds. In addition to the inputs and improved seeds from Aïnoma, we have recently benefited from a lot of training on soil preparation techniques, production, harvesting and post-harvest management. We are now more proud and motivated with the arrival of Aïnoma and 2SCALE, because we see the increase of our yields and our income. We are currently looking for more land to increase production, as Aïnoma is willing to provide us with improved seeds.

Groundnuts in the local diet

As well as production, the women of Guidan Gaba also process groundnuts. Processing techniques are passed down from mother to daughter. Almost all the women in the area know how to transform groundnuts into paste, oil, and Kulikuli (a traditional cake).

Gathered under a shed, Ms Dijé Ibrahim, the president of the cooperative, and some women, prepare Kulikuli, the groundnut cake very appreciated by the Nigerien population. The process is entirely manual. In practice, oil is also obtained during this activity. The different groundnut sub-products are indispensable in the daily diet of households. Ms Dijé Ibrahim explained:

Today, nothing can be consumed without oil, because it is an integral part of all preparations. The KuliKuli is used as an ingredient to season dishes. The paste is used to prepare sauces, but also consumed with moringa leaves and gari. So all three count in the local diet.

Whether it's paste, oil or cake, all of these are available and affordable to everyone, including low-income consumers. With 100 FCFA ($0,18), one can prepare a meal with enough oil. When they produce cakes, 2 are sold at 5 FCFA.

Beyond the nutritional aspect, the production and transformation activities allow women to generate income that helps them not only to cover their needs, but also to dream big. The president says in conclusion:

Thanks to this activity, we have managed to make significant achievements for ourselves and our families. If it was not due to the lack of materials needed to process large quantities of peanuts, I would have already gone on pilgrimage to Mecca. Besides, this is my biggest dream today.

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