Pulse.ng : HarvestPlus inducts spouses of Kaduna LGs Chairmen as community champions for 'Smart Mother Initiative

By Sani Idris

In efforts towards promoting consumption of biofortified foods aimed at scaling up nutriton in women, infant and young children, a NGO, HarvestPlus, has inducted spouses of the 23 LGA Chairmen of Kaduna state as community champions for 'smart mother initiative'.

The induction, was done at the last day of a two-day capacity building workshop for Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) on biofortified crops recipes for women, infant and young child nutrition complementary feeding.

The workshop facilitated by HarvestPlus, was in collaboration with the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), where the state's committee on food and nutrition is domiciled.

Speaking to NAN at the sideline of the induction, the State's Coordinator of HarvestPlus Nigeria, Aminu Abubakar, said the Smart Mother Initiative was aimed at scaling up and creating awareness on biofortified crops.

He explained that livraging on the roles of women as mothers in the home, they mostly make the decisions on what to eat and are equally the ones who takw care of children in the house.

Abubakar, therefore stressed the importance of biofortified crops which are enriched in vitamin 'A' maize, the ion and zinc millets and other biofortified crops in the nutriton of households and the society at large.

He explained that in order for HarvestPlus to achieve its aims of ensuring consumption of biofortified crops, they livraging on the LG committee on food and nutrition existing in Kaduna state which ischaired by Vice Chairmen of the LGAs.

He also explained that a steering committee which was carved out of the LG committee being chaired by spouses of the LGA Chairmen, is being leveraged by HarvestPlus to pass their message of creating awareness on biofortified crops and scaling up their utilisation.

Also, the Nutrition and Food Systems Manager for HarvestPlus in Nigeria, Mrs Kalejaiye Olatundun, said biofortified foods are naturally enhanced with micro nutrients in order to address both nutrition and income generation.

She explained that the varieties of biofortified crops which are available for farmers in Kaduna are important because they are climate and nutriton smart.

Olatundun equally said the crops are important to processors because it would enhance the nutrition content of the foods and would increase dietary intake of vitamin 'A', ion and zinc.

"There is an experimental studies that has shown that consuming these foods continuesly and regularly as a staple can improve the nutritional status of children and women,"she said.

Speaking on the Smart Mother Initiative, she described the spouses of the LGA Chairmen as those who can influence good nutriton in their respective communities by their virtue of being women and mothers.

Earlier, the Director, Development Aid Coordination of the PBC, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, said the workshop, marked a significant step in the state's collective journey towards combating malnutrition and hidden hunger in Nigeria.

Muhammad, who doubles as the Acting Permanent Secretary of the PBC, lamented that malnutrition, especially among women and children, poses a formidable challenge to communities in the state.

She said that in spite of numerous efforts, deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals continued to affect the health and development of the people.

The Director, however said, biofortified crops presented a promising solution, adding that the crops are naturally enriched with vital nutrients and have the potential to transform nutrition landscape in the state.

She explained that the workshop aimed to equip the NFPs and spouses of LGA Chairmen with the necessary knowledge and skills to champion the use of biofortified crops.

She stressed that hrough the dedication of the NFPs and spouses of LGA Chairmen, the cultivation and utilisation of the nutrients enriched crops in complementary feeding programs would be promoted.

This, she said would ultimately improve the nutritional status of communities.

Speaking on behalf of the Smart Mother Initiative inductees, Mrs Lami Barde and Mrs Fatima Maiyere, the spouses of Jama'ah and Makarfi LGA Chairmen, pledged their commitment to the cause of the initiative.

They vowed to work tirelessly to promote the Smart Mother Initiative in their respective LGAs, while lauding the effort by HarvestPlus to improve the health and nutrition of women and children in Kaduna State.

NAN reports that the workshop, featured a practical demonstration on preparing children friendly meals such that it could be introduced to them from six to eight months as part of complementary feeding, was carried out.(NAN)