Integrating Nutrition in Agricultural Extension Services
Paper presented at
Mapping the Linkages between Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition in Malawi Report Launch
By
Mrs Mzondwase Mgomezulu (DAES)
Presentation Outline
• Introduction
• Institutional arrangements
• Strategies
• Challenges
• Conclusion
Rational for Nutrition Extension in Agriculture
• Mandate of Agriculture Extension Services is to provide pluralistic and demand driven extension services
• Role of F&N Branch - Ensuring that households achieve food and nutrition security through diversified production and diets
• Link with different departments (DARS,
Crops, Animal Health, Fisheries, Land
Resources, Irrigation and Planning ) & other
Ministries
• Established Food &Nutrition posts from
National to Districts
• Network of frontline staff
• Decentralized structures to the village level
(model village)
STRUCTURES OF THE DAESS
District Agric.Committee
committees Committees . . .
DEC
AEC
DAECC District Stakeholder Panel
ADC
VDC
Community/
village
Entry point for
Planning & implementation
for interventionsEg ; Model Village
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Area Stakeholder Panel
VAC
• Promotion of production of diversified foods and
dietary diversification (diversified staples, legumes,
food from animals, fruits vegetables, fats and
substitute)
• Promotion of production of high nutritive value foods
and their consumption (OFSP, indigenous vegetables,
small stock, soya beans, orphan crops); Promotion of
Integrated Homestead farming
• Intensification of Nutrition Education
Diversified crop production
Demonstration session at Kaphuka village in Dedza district
Dietary diversification campaign at Peak gardens
• ASWAp-Sp originally had no F&N activities, presently falls under Crops which makes difficult to access funds
- SAPP, APPSA have Food & Nutrition
• Fragmented/project type of implementation
• High vacancy rate (40%) and limited capacity of frontline staff to implement nutrition activities
- Deletion of FHA post at EPA level
• Limited mobility for district specialists including FNOs.
• Generally farming communities have basic
knowledge about Food & Nutrition e.g. the
Malawi six food groups
• Calls for collective and better coordinated
efforts (public, private, civil society,
development partners) in addressing Food
& Nutrition issues