By Sani Idris
An NGO, HarvestPlus, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), on Monday in Zaria, Kaduna state, trained Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) cut across the 23 LGAs of the state on biofortifed crops recipes for infants.
HarvestPlus is a global program that aims to improve nutrition and public health by developing and promoting biofortified crops.
The biofortifed crops recipes was aimed at complementing feeding for women and young child nutrition.
Making a presentation on biofortification and nutriton, the Nutrition and Foods Systems Manager of HarvestPlus Nigeria, Mrs Kalejaiye Olatundun, said the workshop is expected to have a positive impact on the nutrition of women, infants, and young children in Kaduna state.
She explained that the use of biofortified crops in complementary feeding has the potential to reduce micronutrient deficiencies and improve overall health and well-being.
“Biofortification, the process of breeding crops to be richer in essential micronutrients, has been hailed as a game-changer in the fight against malnutrition.
“By enhancing the nutritional content of staple crops, biofortification aims to improve the health and wellbeing of millions of people around the world.
“In particular, biofortified crops have the potential to address widespread deficiencies in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc, which are essential for healthy growth and development,”she said.
Olatundun equally said that one of the key benefits of biofortification is its potential to reach vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and young children, who are most at risk of malnutrition.
She explained that, by incorporating biofortified crops into their diets, the individuals can receive the essential nutrients they need to thrive.
Moreover, she said biofortification is a cost-effective and sustainable solution, as it leverages existing agricultural systems and infrastructure.
“This makes it an attractive option for countries looking to improve nutrition outcomes without requiring significant investments in new infrastructure.
“The impact of biofortification on nutrition is already being felt in countries around the world. In Nigeria, for example, the introduction of vitamin A-enriched sweet potatoes has led to a significant reduction in vitamin A deficiency among children under the age of five.
“As the use of biofortified crops continues to expand, it is clear that this innovative approach has the potential to make a significant dent in the global burden of malnutrition,”Olatundun added.
She restated HarvestPlus’s committment to continuing its work in improving nutrition and health through the development and promotion of biofortified crops.
Earlier, the Director Development Aid Coordination of the PBC, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, said the malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge in the state and country, particularly among infants and young children.
Aisha who doubles as the PBC’s Acting Permanent Secretary, represented by her deputy, Mrs Pricilla Dariya, said the consequences of malnutrition are severe and long-lasting, affecting not only the health but also the cognitive development and productivity of children.
She therefore said it is imperative that innovative solutions to address the challenge are explored, where biofortification is one such solution.
According to her, biofortification is a proven approach that has shown significant promise in improving the nutritional content of staple crops, making them more nutritious and beneficial to consumers.
“The use of biofortified crops in complementary feeding has the potential to significantly reduce micronutrient deficiencies among infants and young children. As a state, we are committed to exploring ways to improve the health and wellbeing of our citizens, and this workshop is a critical step in that direction,”Aisha said.
She commended HarvestPlus for their efforts in building the capacity of the NFPs who would step down the training at their respective localities.
She urged all participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to learn and share knowledge, and to use the skills acquired to make a positive impact in their respective communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NFPs expressed their gratitude to HarvestPlus for the opportunity to learn about biofortified crops and recipes that could improve nutrition in their respective LGAs.
High point of the workshop was practical cooking demostration on different food recipes for complementary feeding for infants and young children.(NAN)
