How farmers can help reduce malnutrition rate in Nakuru

Farmers in Nakuru County will receive training on nutrition-sensitive agriculture to help them focus on farming nutritious dense foods, in ways that are likely to address nutrition problems.

The various nutrition-sensitive interventions are crucial for addressing all forms of malnutrition including stunted growth, being underweight and obesity.

This was revealed during the training workshop for extension officers from across the county, by County Director for Agriculture Charles Githiri.

In his speech, Mr Githiri emphasizes the crucial importance of nutrition-sensitive agriculture to address issues related to child development and maternal health, food security and resilience, economic prosperity, and livelihood in Nakuru. 

"Nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) integrates nutritional objectives into agricultural practices to combat malnutrition and improve health among communities," he says.

Mr. Githiri emphasizes that the approach will encourage the production of diverse, nutrient-rich foods, dietary diversity while addressing underlying causes of malnutrition, such as food access and sanitation.

He notes that extension officers will train and capacity-build farmers on the production of diverse nutritious food in the county, to enhance agricultural productivity and promote sustainable practices for good nutritional outcomes.

"The officers will provide high-quality agri-nutrition services encouraging consumption of safe, diverse nutritious food for a well-nourished population," he notes. 

According to a report by the Kenya Demographics Health Survey, Nakuru County's malnutrition status has a triple burden of stunting at 18.5 percent, wasting at 3 percent, underweight at 9 percent, and overweight/obesity at 4 percent.

Mr Githiri attributed the high rate of malnutrition to poor diets, which he says lack important nutritious found in fruits and vegetables.

The county has a Nakuru County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP), which provides a framework for addressing the triple burden of malnutrition that Nakuru faces.

In a bid to address the challenge, Nakuru County is implementing the program in collaboration with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Care International through CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE) project.