Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture: Examples from East and Central Africa

Angela Kimani

27th August, 2013

Adult FFLS:

Discussions are need based.

Nutrition Education on- Basic nutrition information,

Diversification in production, Cooking

demonstrations, Food Storage, Nutrition &HIV,

Exchange visits, Nutrition open days etc.

Nutrition in Farmer Field and Life Schools (FFLS)

Nutrition open day FFS Visit to a local processing company

Cont:Innovative

methods to

increase vegetable

production, for

better nutrition.

(stair case garden).

Field school members working

together in vegetable farms in

production and analysis

Improving nutrition: Participatory food

handling and preparation

and how to better use locally available

foods to maximize nutritional benefits

Nutrition in Farmer Field and Life Schools (FFLS)

Nutrition is also integrated in Junior Farmer Field Schools

Dietary Intake:

•The average number of meals per day increased from two to three by

the end of the project (1st phase). For example: In Kenya, 75% of

participants interviewed increased the number of meals taken per day

from two to three. In DRC, the quantity of meals was reported to have

increased from 1 to 2 meals a day with inclusion of vegetables.

•In Rwanda Nutrition practices have improved with better knowledge

on management and conservation of foods, consumption of milk and

increased consumption of beans.

•The combined improved nutrition and hygiene practices contributed

to better health outcomes. For example: in Bukavu, (DRC) the project

site nutritional centres reported a reduction in admissions of

undernourished children, which was directly attributed to the project.

Positive Impact on Nutrition:

Incomes and effect to dietary intake:

•There has been improvement in agricultural activities and

improvement in management of crops and poultry, and diversification

of enterprises, resulting in improved nutrition. For example: Baharini,

in Kenya: where, they had only two meals which increased to three

meals because of knowledge gained by that improved productivity of

cabbages, chickens and kales which they sold to obtain cash income to

buy sugar.

•In Rwanda, the increase of household income was between 100 and

200 percent. In Burundi, the increase in income has resulted in a

decrease in the level of beneficiaries’ debt.

•2nd phase of project: In Uganda, access to food from the market was

improve because of the integration of Village Savings and Loans in FFLS

which has enabled them to save and borrow. Food was reported to be

more available at home.

Positive Impact on Nutrition:

Lessons Learned Case Study: The Integration Of

Nutrition In Farmer Field Schools in Eastern Africa.

Objectives:

To document the processes that have been used to mainstream nutrition in FFS; To

document changes in nutrition knowledge and practice amongst FFS

beneficiaries, including constraints / enabling factors that prevent/encourage the

uptake of improved nutrition practices; To identify good practices, as well as

opportunities and gaps in terms of integrating nutrition in FFS and propose

recommendations (on methods, messages, materials…) for improving the

effectiveness of nutrition education provided in FFS.

Countries: 6- desk review, 2- field work

Lesson learning in Nutrition-FFS

Pastoral Field Schools:

•Training- emphasis on nutrition education,

preservation, mainstreaming nutrition

throughout the activities i.e, to make wiser

food decisions etc,

•Nutrition in PFS Impact study,

•PFS Manual with nutrition topic- in its final stages

Nutrition in Pastoral Field Schools

Why the discussion?

Importance of ensuring that the “food

security” stakeholders “own” the nutrition

agenda / feel responsible for it.

Importance of ensuring that the “nutrition”

stakeholders recognize the role of, and

advocate for, food security interventions that

address nutritional needs

Nutrition and Livestock linkages

Working with the Regional Livestock and

Pastoralism Working Group:

(In conjunction with the Regional nutrition sub-group):

•Discussion on Milk Matters to show integration

with nutrition,

•Livestock presentations with section on impact

on food security and nutrition,

•Presentation on Nutrition sensitive

livestock programmes

Nutrition and Livestock linkages