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CAR Conflict Challenges Food Production

The past several years of sectarian violence following a 2013 coup have left the Central African Republic’s agricultural sector devastated. Agriculture once made up 54 percent of the GDP, but, since the onset of the crisis, food production has plummeted, and food prices in the market have skyrocketed -- compromising the sustainability of agriculture and foreshadowing a deeper food crisis.

"Here we tried to grow green beans. But the seeds were of poor quality," stated one farmer, "And it didn't grow. So we grow cassava instead."

For a collective of farmers located 30 kilometers from the capital, Bangui, time has come to grow what is commonly called "crisis food", such as cassava. It takes a long time to grow and is labor intensive, but it's hard to steal and is the last resort for these farmers in a bid to survive.

When the civil war broke out in the Central African Republic a couple of years ago, many farms were looted. So some farmers have begun working the land together.

But they lack everything from machines to quality seeds, explained coordinator Felicite Ignabode. “If we don't get seeds in time and we can't plant, there will be a real food crisis. Not only for the farmer, but also for the people who depend on their production. Besides, farmers have families. If they can't feed them anymore, there is a temptation for them to give up, take up a weapon and do bad things,” said Ignabode.

The local NGO Calebasse has hired technicians to help the farmers produce more efficiently.

"Sometimes, their technique is a bit amateurish. They would grow several products on the same little plot. So we teach them to separate them and also to vary the kind of products they grow, like marrow, yam, banana. There is a market for these," explained Boris Wabie.

One market in Bangui is almost deserted. The collapse of local agricultural production and a surge of imported food provoked a sharp increase in prices.

And agriculture is not the only sector affected by it. The price of meat has also increased, said Blandine, a customer. "Prices have increased a lot. For the same amount of money, I get less quantity," Blandine said.

Trader Emmanuel Bongo justified the rising prices because of the challenges he now has to face to get meat to the stalls.

Traditionally, Muslims dominated meat production and livestock transportation. With the war, many of them fled, leaving the traders to travel further and further to get livestock.

"Now we have to get the livestock far away from Bangui, so we often encounter anti-balakas [Christian and animist militias] on the road, and they tax us," Bongo said. "Armed Peul [ethnic group] also often rob us. And, once we finally get back here, we don't have fridges to store the meat, and it goes bad very quickly."

For the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, social cohesion is the key to rebuiding the food industry on which different population groups depend.

So, besides providing seeds and training to farmers, agronomist Pierre Vauthier says FAO also tries to bring the Peul population back into society. "The Central African livestock keepers, which are Peul, in majority, are at the moment hidden in the bush. So we want to help them to receive services, in particular for the cattle," he stated..

Prior to the war, 70 percent of Central Africans lived off of agriculture and livestock.

词汇解析

midday

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

n.正午；中午

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

He's grilling out there in the midday sun.

他在正午的阳光下受炙烤。

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commander

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

n.司令官；指挥官

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The commander ordered a counterattack.

司令官命令反攻。

The army was arrayed before the commander.

部队在指挥官前列好阵势。

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sufficient

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.足够的；充分的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The money I have saved is sufficient for buying a car.

我所存的钱足以买一辆汽车。

We must work hard, but equally we must get sufficient rest.

我们必须努力工作,但同时也要有充分的休息。

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absolutely

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adv.完全地；绝对地；[语]独立地

int.（表示赞同）完全正确，一点没错

参考例句

用作副词 (adv.)

I trust his discretion absolutely.

我完全相信他的判断。

Most researchers believe that, in theory, mobile phones are absolutely safe.

多数研究者认为,从理论上讲,移动电话是绝对安全的。

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vehicle

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.车辆；交通工具；传播媒介；手段；工具

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

It is time for the yearly check of vehicle safety.

到车辆安全年审的时间了。

It subsequently evolved into an even more complex investment vehicle.

并随后发展成为一种更为复杂的投资手段。

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confidence

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.信任；把握；信心；知心话

adj.骗得信任的

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The worst barrier to your success is not lack of money, but lack of confidence.

你成功最大的障碍不是缺钱,而是缺乏信心。

The two girls told each other confidences about their boyfriends.

这两个姑娘相互谈了关于各自男友的悄悄话。

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unwilling

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

adj.不愿意的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

I am unwilling to set a precedent.

我不想开先例。

If you are unwilling, don't hesitate to say no.

如果你不愿意,请直说吧。

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