Nutrition-sensitive agriculture

In Africa, nutritional deficiencies among children due to poverty and a lack of awareness on the importance of a nutritious diet have long been regarded as a malnutrition burden, but in recent years, adult obesity and lifestyle-related diseases based on unbalanced dietary habits have also become serious problems.

It has been medically proven that malnutrition in early childhood has a significant impact on brain development as well as physical growth, and agriculture is expected to make a positive contribution in the field of nutrition.

SAA needs to take on the challenge of improving nutrition in rural Africa by strengthening its extension system to support the cultivation and marketing of nutritious crops (biofortified and nutrient-dense), improving food safety and quality, and by promoting market-oriented agriculture to increase the income of smallholder farmers and improve their access to nutritious food. It is also necessary to improve nutrition education targeting women who are most concerned about the health of their families. In addition, nutrition-related agriculture curricula should be introduced in SAA-affiliated university programs.


Voices from the Field

A lady enjoying vitamin A sweet potato and vegetables in Bugiri District, Uganda
NEWS
August.17.2021

A partnership Agreement with HarvestPlus concluded to scale up Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture

The Sasakawa Africa Association and HarvestPlus, a program of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), has entered into a partnership agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding which aims to scale up nutrition sensitive Agriculture in Africa through promotion of biofortified food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals. The partnership aims to build sustainable food systems that bridges the gap between agriculture and nutrition by designing and implementing practical a...

Permagarden host farmer in  Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
September.8.2021

Improved household nutrition and livelihood resilience through permagardening

Permagarden is a small-scale permanent garden established around homes to provide diverse diets for families year-round. The permagarden approach combines the best practices of permaculture (permanent agriculture) and bio-intensive agriculture models, with the former focusing on design principles for using natural systems for production and the latter on maximizing soil and plant health and increasing biodiversity through sustainable practices for maximum yield.

Awa Damba, a chair-lady of female farmer groups at the Production Postharvest handling and Trade Center (PHTC) of Siranikoto
Mali
June.22.2021

“I can now share with my community that food is medicine” - A story about how SAA created awareness on nutrition at rural villages.

Awa Damba, a chair-lady of female farmer groups at the Production Postharvest handling and Trade Center (PHTC) of Siranikoto, Kayes Region of Mali, established by Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA). Awa is a host farmer of the Community Demonstration Plots (CDPs) set by SAA to promote improved farming practice for rice especially for women group and actively participates in several agro-processing activities including parboiling rice and groundnut butter processing. She is also a member of the co...

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Voices from the Field Special Edition 2022

This is a special edition of the "Voices from the Field" articles.