Henry C. Anagboso
The Anambra State Coordination Office of the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP),
the Federal Government of Nigeria and International Fund for Agricultural Development–Assisted, has intensified efforts to promote improved nutrition and healthy food consumption among rural farming households.
As part of its nutrition mainstreaming activities, held recently in Awka, the programme educated farmers, especially women and youth on the preparation of nutritious meals using locally available crops such as cassava, rice, cowpea and others.
The initiative aims to address malnutrition in rural communities while encouraging households to adopt balanced diets.
Speaking during the nutrition training, the State Programme Coordinator, Anambra State VCDP, Dr. Deborah Onyefulu, said the nutrition component of the programme is critical in ensuring that increased agricultural production translates into better health and well-being for farming families.
Dr. Deborah who spoke through the Rural Institution Gender and Youth Mainstreaming officer, RIGYMO Mr. Ikechukwu Anyasie explained that participants are trained on food processing, hygienic food preparation, and the use of nutrient-rich agricultural products available around them in preparing healthy meals.
According to her, the programme also supports women’s groups and cooperatives with modern agro-processing equipment and training to enhance food value addition and improve income generation
The VCDP State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Chinwe Ekwelie said that integrating nutrition education into communities in Anambra State is important.
Henry is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
