Female farmers venture into peanut milk production

Tendai Gukutikwa
A GROUP of 25 Buhera female farmers has ventured into peanut milk production which has enabled them to sustain and broaden livelihoods in the dry and poverty stricken district.

The Try Again Mother Support Group was founded in 2009 and despites stumbling along the way, has finally met success unexpectedly.

A pioneer member of the group, Mrs Martha Mangezi Vhiriri, said the idea of extracting milk from peanuts came after realising that the tired and infertile soils in Buhera, coupled with unpredictable rain as a result of climate change was affecting crop production in the area.

Milk extraction, was one such way of value addition, which marks a paradigm shift from peanut butter making.

Peanut milk is a beverage processed out of peanuts and water and can be taken daily.

The milk extraction process includes soaking the peanuts overnight.

The soaked peanuts are then grinded in a mortar using a pestle.

A few droplets of water are added to make sieving easier. This leaves the farmers with two by-products – milk and the cereal from the left-over sieved nuts.

The group is producing 20 to 25 litres of milk per day which is sold mostly to school teachers and some members of the community. However, with a better market, the group can produce over 200 litres of peanut milk daily.

“Our main challenge is lack of market here in Buhera. This is a noble venture to eradicate poverty in rural communities and we are appealing to promoters and sponsors to help source better equipment and market for our products,” said Mrs Vhiririri.

“To produce three litres of peanut milk, you only need two regular cups of peanuts. We sell a two litre bottle of peanut milk for a dollar,” she said.

She said the amount of water used depends on the desired thickness of the milk.

“Currently we are producing non-sweetened milk. Interestingly, our beverage is ideal for lactose intolerant people since it does not contain any lactose,” added the 54 year-old Mrs Vhiriri.

The group’s main aim is to create sustenance for themselves and the vulnerable in their community. Mrs Christine Shanduko said they had helped a significant number of orphaned children throughout the district by providing them with school uniforms, stationery and school fees using funds raised from the project.

“To date, we are assisting 36 orphaned children from five schools in our district with financial and social assistance,” said Mrs Shanduko.

Apart from orphaned children, Try Again Mother Support Group also supports several widows and other vulnerable people in Buhera.

The group also processes coffee made from soya beans, powdered soup made from white round nuts, dried onions and tomatoes, petroleum jelly made from candles and soya milk made from soya beans.

Mrs Vhiriri said their efforts had been rewarded recently when they were awarded 200 dinner plates, 50 mug cups, a jar and a large pot after coming tops at the district Women Affairs Show held at Murambinda, recently.

“We are hoping to surpass that record and get even more awards and exhibit at the Harare Agricultural Show in Harare next year. It is also our hope to acquire a machine to pound the peanuts and sieve the milk out of the semi-processed peanuts,” added Mrs Vhiriri.

The group boils the milk as a preservative measure since they do not have a refrigerator.