Developing culturally acceptable peanut nutrition bars with smallholder women farmers in Kaffrine, Senegal using participatory action research

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims at listening holistically with smallholder women farmers in Kaffrine, Senegal and then partnering with them to seek out impediments to value-added processing to develop a culturally acceptable and nutritious product for school-age children. A survey was conducted with 60 smallholder farmers in the four communities of Diamal, Ndangane, Keur serigne djibel and Ngouye Siwakh to identify constraints to peanut farming and value-added processing. Participants were invited to focus group discussions to provide in-depth commentary to survey findings and develop ideas for a healthy peanut product. Data from surveys and focus groups revealed quality seeds, farm input, access to mills, and income as the community needs to meet their challenges to peanut farming and food security. Specifically, the focus groups identified a peanut nutrition bar as the target peanut-based value-added product (PBVAP) and selected corn flour, cowpea flour and baobab powder as healthy ingredients for making the product.