Household food security and nutrition in the Luapula Valley, Zambia.
Callens, K.; Phiri, E. C.;
Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Year: 1998 Issue: No. 22 Pages: 22-29
1998
บทคัดย่อ
In the Luapula Valley of northern Zambia, rates of chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are unacceptably high. Preliminary survey results indicate that the majority of children under 5 years of age are stunted because of chronic protein-energy malnutrition. A participatory rural appraisal found that nutritional vulnerability is a result of chronic household food insecurity; poor access to adequate health care, water and sanitation facilities; inadequate care for vulnerable people; and lack of essential knowledge and basic skills because of poor education and communication. Household food insecurity results from insufficient access to agricultural land, lack of diversity of food crop production and poor postharvest practices. Agricultural extension, credit and marketing infrastructure are poor. Household food security is impeded by income, labour and time constraints. Women are responsible for almost all food production activities, apart from land clearing, in addition to their oth
er household chores such as food processing and preparation and child care. In April 1997, an integrated five-year project focusing on household food security and nutrition was initiated with the aim of improving year-round access to a balanced diet that is adequate in energy, vitamin A, iron and other macro- and micronutrients. The project's training programme includes gender analysis, participatory approaches and various technical subjects. It reaches community members; staff from agriculture, education, community development and health organizations; and technical personnel and district project coordinators. The project follows a "community action planning" strategy in which the community members fully participate in the planning process and take the lead in determining needs, identifying solutions, initiating actions and monitoring progress. After setting priorities and plans of action, the communities develop microprojects, which have included, for example, community-managed oil-palm nurseries, seed mul
tiplication groups, farmers' field schools, small-scale irrigation and dry-season vegetable gardening, school gardening in conjunction with nutrition education and water user groups. To date more than 100 communities have started microprojects and many more are ready to begin implementation. An active dialogue has begun, and people are taking action to improve their nutrition situation with assistance from the community support services and the project. Through the process, farmers and extension workers have come to understand that nutrition problems have many aspects and that they should think about solutions in an integrated manner.