THE SITUATION
The ‘big island’ closed its borders on 19 March and a state of health emergency was declared two days later. The confinement and restrictions on movement between the different regions of the country are severely hampering commercial and economic activities, and the people who make their living from selling their agricultural or fishing produce are particularly hard hit by this market paralysis. The families of groundnut growers that we support are particularly hard hit. The impossibility of selling their produce outside the region has caused prices to fall by almost 40%, and producers are forced to sell because they have neither the cash nor the infrastructure to allow them to store their produce speculatively. To compensate for this low selling price, most growers have sold their entire production (already reduced by the lack of rain), which will limit the quantity of seed available for the following season. In terms of health, the training of health staff is insufficient to deal with the crisis, as is the material and equipment required to protect themselves and patients.
OUR ACTIONS
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have been able to further equip our healthcare partners to better welcome, raise awareness and care for patients. The families of farmers who make a living from selling groundnuts receive productive seeds so that they can sow their fields quickly. We are also providing them with cereal and pulse seeds to supplement their production, as well as small equipment and materials to make field work easier.