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Malnutrition and small-scale gardening
By Willem VAN COTTHEMUniversity of Ghent, Belgium
ABSTRACT
Malnutrition in developing countries is generally alleviated by
food aid providedby international organizations like the World Food
Programme (WFP). This kind ofintervention at regular intervals
leaves the recipient people mostly dependent onexternal aid.
However, small-scale gardening is an excellent tool to provide
foodsecurity and to improve nutrition and health conditions, in
particular for children.
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One can read on my blog
http://desertification.wordpress.com
the posting:
COTE DIVOIRE: Malnutrition critical in north and west
published by IRIN, humanitarian news and analysis, a project of
the UN Office forthe Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
I found it quite painful to learn about the chronic malnutrition
of 40 to 45 % ofthe children, according to preliminary results of a
2009 nutrition study by theMinistry of Health of Ivory Coast, in
collaboration with UNICEF, WFP and OCHA.
Lack of education, poor diets and feeding practices, reduced
access to land dueto conflict, inconsistent rains and poor access
to health care are mentioned asthe main causes for this dramatic
situation.
In the western part of the country only 9 percent of households
regularly feedtheir children meals representing the four necessary
food groups. ..Children here may eat three times a day but there is
nothing nutritious in thefood.
The study warns that chronic malnutrition could even worsen if
food insecurity,due to farmers being displaced, vulnerability to
2008 food price hikes andinconsistent rains, continues.
It was concluded that responding to this terrible chronic
malnutrition requiresreducing poverty, improving health services
and food security, as well aschanging behaviour.
It sounds nice that FAO is addressing food security in the
region of the city ofMan by working with a local NGO Ide Afrique.
To me it sounds like a ChristmasCarol when I read : FAO gave Chabel
a gardening kit so she could grow
vegetables to eat or sell. FAO runs 36 such centres in northern
and westernregions in collaboration with the National Nutrition
Programme (PNN), UNICEF,WFP and NGO Action Contre la Faim.
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Isnt it wonderful news to learn that FAO, in collaboration with
PNN, UNICEF,WFP and a NGO, runs 36 feeding and nutrition-awareness
centers in that part ofIvory Coast?
Let us now suppose that these international and national
organizations join their
forces to offer a gardening kit to every young mother in these
northern andwestern regions so they could grow vegetables to eat or
sell.
Three questions come to my mind:
What would be the percentage of chronic malnutrition 2-3 years
after laying outsmall family gardens with these gardening
kits?;
Would the vegetables grown in these small gardens make the daily
food of thechildren nutritious enough?
and
What would be the level of poverty reduction if the young
mothers could sell apart of their vegetables?
Do I hear a new Christmas Carol? Or is it just one of my
dreams?
