Enhancing the Peanut Value Chain, from Processing to Marketing Peanuts and Peanut Products - Processing

Approach

In Haiti, approximately 600,000 rural farmers are involved in planting peanuts as a secondary crop in the rural areas. Women in particular are involved in product development, and the main products of these cottage/farm level industries are peanut butter, paste, oil, sam-sam, and candy. However, these products lack good keeping qualities. There is a need to increase the agricultural-based income and dietary protein levels of the rural population. Similar situation exists in Guyana. One way to achieve these objectives would be through processing activities that produce value-added peanut products with acceptable quality and shelf-life attributes. The investigators (Chinnan, Resurreccion and Florkowski) had been involved in developing new peanuts products/technologies and transferring those for commercialization (Bulgaria, Philippines and Thailand, US). Where they have demonstrated the engagement of the processing industry for making impact. Impact in the Philippines has been notable through the Peanut Industry Incubator Model (PIIM). This Peanut CRSP proposal will include in its design, a model for strategies deploying the PIIM, for people to benefit directly from technological interventions, to be developed. The final model applied globally, will enhance the sustainable development in the peanut value chain, from processing to marketing.

Our goal is to enhance incomes and employment opportunities of people through a strategy of improving agricultural producers’ and processors’ access to markets and stimulating new market demand, through activities that for us on improving post-harvest techniques, quality, peanut processing, peanut product development and access to market information and linkages. We propose to address the global constraints with the developing/implementation of a model in peanut processing, marketing and utilization. Some peanut farmers are involved in post-harvest and processing activities, while others are successful entrepreneurs marketing peanut products. The approach will be based on the existing Peanut Innovation Incubator Model (PIIM) conceptualized, developed and successfully implemented by the investigators while working in the Philippines, Thailand and Bulgaria. Using the PIIM, the investigators have demonstrated commercialization or increased market-share of peanut products to a position of dominance. The model is appropriate for peanut processing activities by a village-based business or a larger business enterprise with nationwide distribution and exports. This project will focus on processing aspect of peanut based products and will work closely with other two projects (PIs - Dr. Florkowski; Dr. Resurreccion) which have emphases on product development, consumer preferences and marketing. The proposed research will help achieve the mission of USAID and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of poverty reduction, greater value of peanuts, improved public health and food security, gender equity, and development of partnerships.