Integrating Nutrition in Agricultural Extension Services

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