Photo essay

Peanut farmers in East Darfur join the fight against malnutrition in Sudan

With high malnutrition rates among children under the age of five in Sudan, therapeutic foods that contain locally produced peanuts high in nutrients, have become powerful tools in helping to treat severely malnourished children.

Iman Mustafa
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  • Peanut farmers in East Darfur join the fight against malnutrition in Sudan
    • 09 June 2020
    Peanut farmer in Sudan
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    Sudan is a country with an unparalleled abundance of rich natural resources, unique blend of cultures and agricultural land.
    Unshelling peanuts
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    Sudan is one of the top five global producers of peanuts, which amounts to 14 per cent of the word’s peanut production. One variety of this groundnut is grown in the western part of the country, accounting to 60-70 per cent of the total production whilst the other grows in Gezira state in Eastern Sudan.
    Peanut farmer in Sudan
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    UNICEF Sudan and partners work with local partners to produce peanuts. The facilitation of economic support is a strong foundation for sustainable solutions to malnutrition and poverty eradication.
    Child being weighed for malnutrition
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    Approximately 2.7 million children under five and 800,000 pregnant and lactating women suffer from malnutrition, out of whom 522,000 children suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
    Child arm is measured for malnutrition
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    Man opens RUTF packet
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    UNICEF procures therapeutic feeding products such as Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), therapeutic milks, associated medications and equipment, which help treat malnutrition in children.
    Child about to receive RUTF packet
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    RUTF is a peanut paste fortified with micronutrients designed to treat severely malnourished children under five. RUTF is prescribed by a health practitioner who follows up with regular medical check-ups at health facilities and at the community level.
    RUTF boxes in warehouse
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    RUTF used to be imported, however, in 2012, local production of RUTF in Sudan, through locally produced and available ingredients, was introduced.
    Peanut farmer in Sudan
    UNICEF/elMastabaTV
    RUTF plays a crucial role in the region’s economic growth and building resilient communities. Local farmers not only earn an income, but they receive training and assistance to ensure crop sustainability.
    With thanks to the Netherlands, Sweden, USAID and donors contributing to United Nation's Central Emergency Response Fund for supporting UNICEF's nutrition programs. 

    Related topics

    Malnutrition
    Infant and young child nutrition
    Health supplies
    Sudan

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