NEWS BITS

The meeting took place at the African Institute of Capacity Development (AICAD), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Juja, Kenya. Twenty nine (29) participants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, gathered to address issues related to improving Biodiversity, Nutrition and Health in sub-Saharan Africa through an ecosystem approach. In attendance were Martin B. Kumbe and Margaret A. Mukulo from Rural Outreach Program (ROP).

Reduced biodiversity has serious effects on nutrition and health of rural and urban populations and deprives rural farmers of opportunities to generate income. Dietary diversification is also widely accepted as a cost-effective and sustainable way of resolving nutrition related health problems. The use of traditional foods in achieving dietary diversity has a positive impact on the environment and addresses cultural needs of the local community.

The regional director for IPGRI, Dr. Jojo Baidu- Forson in his opening speech, expressed concern on the nutritional transition that Africa is currently experiencing. ‘While in the west people have turned to traditional diets for clues of longevity and health, in the urban developing world, people are abandoning locally important foods rich in vital nutrients in favor of refined carbohydrates now cheaper than ever. No wonder diseases such as cancers , diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity-illness usually associated with the affluent west- are now catching up with us and have become the norm in our society’ he said.

Nutritional supplements have become an easy way out for most people. But, how many can afford them and who are the beneficiaries? In as much as they help address specific deficiencies in essential nutrients, research has shown that most essential nutrient deficiencies can be eliminated by small increase in diversity in the diet. A diet that is diverse, offers a more holistic approach to nutrition and health.

African leafy vegetable (ALV) project which is being promoted by various international and local Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as IPGRI, ROP, and Farm Concern International, is one of the ways in which diversity can be introduced in our diets. ALVs are a main source of micronutrients, especially Pro Vitamin A and could be used as a strategy to address Vitamin A deficiency.

In Kenya there is an over-dependence on two main leafy vegetables (cabbage and kales) due to their availability, convenience and affordability, narrowing down nutritional diversity. These NGOs are determined to break the monotony of consuming cabbage and kales and are fighting to ensure that dietary diversity with regard to ALVs, is introduced into the diets of the Kenyan population. The project has started having a positive impact in the communities where they are being promoted. For example, in Butere division in rural western Kenya,ROP has fought tirelessly to ensure this project is successful and majority of the people in this area have not only taken it up as an income generating project, but have also introduced the vegetables into their diets. The farmers now supply seeds and vegetables to major cities such as Kisumu and Nairobi, and this is now a major source of income for them. ROP has also opened a distribution point in Nairobi where farmers from all over the country (small scale as well as commercial) could access the seeds.

As much as consumption of these ALVs in sub-Saharan region is being addressed, the participants identified certain problem areas, whose solutions have to be sort a step forward in the journey to realizing our success. Some of the problem areas identified included:

1. Limited research

2. Lack of proper knowledge /education on these ALVs

3. Strong taboos and beliefs
Strong taboos and beliefs have become a hindrance to the acceptance of these ALVs. A participant from Tanzania gave an example of ALVs being regarded as a woman’s crop and more emphasis is being put on the cash crops which are considered a man’s crop. It is considered a taboo for men to be seen consuming ALVs in broad day light. There is also an increased promotion of exotic crops against the traditional ones and thus loss of indigenous knowledge on traditional foods.

4. Market and marketing of ALVs
The rapid expansion and acceptance of these vegetables among the fairly high spending urban consumers implies that the ALV production has a guaranteed and profitable market that needs to be sustained through effective and innovative marketing. Currently local NGO’s Farm Concern International and ROP have succefully aimed at linking peri urban and rural farmers to formal and informal markets. Farm Concern International, for example, entered into partnership with one of the leading supermarkets Uchumi and farmers were able to market their vegetables there. But when Uchumi went under the farmers were at a loss and this affected their income flow. The informal sector then became target for the farmers though they were not able to make much profit.

Farmers contracted by ROP are sustained largely by the sale of vegetable seeds and the vegetables, which are sold within Butere Division its surrounding areas and nearby urban markets at low price during over supply of the produce in the region. Unfortunately, the farmers are not able to access distant profitable markets due to high transport costs and perishability of the vegetables. This has created room for middle traders, who have taken the advantage to exploit the farmers.

It is important that ways be explored to link vegetable farmers to the outside markets. There is a glaring need to up-scale our marketing efforts to boost production and consumption beyond where the vegetables are traditionally grown and consumed.

5. Processing and preservation
Due to fast perishability under ambient temperature of the vegetables, there must be the shortest possible delay between harvest and sale. Ideally they should reach the consumer not later than 2 days after harvest. There is need to promote production and consumption through processing and preservation. Solar drying, for example, has been one of the oldest and cheapest ways of preserving vegetables. Introduction of this technology to the community, the farmers will be able to preserve these vegetables and at the same time access markets outside the area of production.

However, it will be very necessary to determine the nutritional value of these dried vegetables and compare them to the fresh commodity.
“Kienyeji mix”
Black night-shade is now being consumed largely in Nairobi. One of the peri urban farmers’ Mr. Kimondo says he is unable to satisfy the demand of black night shade in the city. Due to his up-scaled farming he has come up with ‘Kienyeji mix’ (mixture of 2 to 3 different kinds of ALVs with kale and spinach). He cuts the vegetables, does the mixing himself, packs and sells them. This ‘kienyeji mix’ is selling well in Nairobi and his returns are good. But our major concern as nutritionists is the nutritional content of this’kienyeji mix’ and effect of pre processing (cutting) on nutrient of vegetables.

6. Poor Policies
Our policy-makers lack awareness on the nutritional, health and medicinal benefits of ALVs. There are no policies regarding traditional foods and therefore there is need to enforce and implement them. ROP has moved a step forward and is raising awareness among members of parliament by targeting their stomach: meals of leafy vegetables are being served at the cafeteria of the Kenya National Assembly.

7. Capacity building
There is lack of enough income to enable up-take of this new project and an over- dependency of developing countries on donor aid which if withdrawn will have a negative effect on the project. It is important that the community is able to sustain this project and own it.

8. Monitoring and evaluation
There is lack of accountability and transparency on resource (nutrition and health) expenditure.

9. Partnership and networking
Lack of partnership at community, national and regional level. There is also poor coordination between various government ministries and non governmental agencies. It is necessary that these organizations partner and work together to enhance the success of the project.

ECOSYSTEM APPROACH
An Ecohealth approach which focuses above all on the place of human beings within the environment will be used to address the above issues. It recognizes that there are inextricable links between humans and their biophysical, social and economical environments and that these links are reflected in the population’s state of health.

Traditional control methods have, in many respects, failed to improve the health, sanitary conditions, and well-being of large portions of the population in developing countries. This failure now poses a challenge to scientists, government, international organization and donors who must revise their programs and policies to look beyond conventional health practices. To begin with they need to examine ecosystems in terms that go beyond traditional biophysical characteristics.

The economy, environment and the needs of the community all have an impact on the health of ecosystem. Restricting our focus on any one of those elements, while ignoring the others, risks compromising the ecosystem’s sustainability. The ecosystem approach should be seen therefore as part of the ‘sustainable development movement.’ It encourages both positive environmental action and welfare at community level.

 Way forward
The main focus is to strengthen biodiversity and improve dietary diversity nutrition and health in sub Saharan Africa and the ever growing world population. A project log- frame as part of the concept note will be developed by IPGRI which will have a common title for the three East African countries, though the strategies could differ. The problem areas identified will be turned into actions. Some common principles that apply to the three countries will be emphasized. For example:

There is need to protect our environment (ecosystem approach). Cultivation of these vegetables is a means of conserving them, farming systems that conserve the ecosystem will be emphasized, reduced use of pesticide on indigenous foods and more emphases be made on use of manure. Vegetables tend to use less fuel during preparation and this is an environmental benefit. The biggest issue in terms of conservation is poverty; this will be captured in the project. Other crops such as fruits, legumes, roots and tubers, edible insects are part of traditional foods and therefore will be considered part of this project.

In conclusion, dietary diversity has an important role to play in fulfilling people’s nutritional, medicinal and therapeutic needs. It is important therefore, that the use of traditional foods is stressed in achieving dietary diversity, nutrition and health. This will help reduce cases of non communicable diseases especially in developing countries, conserve and preserve our environment, and above all improve our food security, health and nutrition situation not only in sub- Saharan Africa but in the world. Well nourished people are more likely to conserve the biodiversity surrounding them rather than erode it.

Eat healthy live healthy.

The list of participants: