Presented by Anna Anderson and Dr. Shakuntala Thilsted at the Workshop to Promote Orange Flesh Sweet Potato, held in Jessore, Bangladesh, on the 4th and 5th of May, 2013.
2. Homestead aqua- and agriculture
Production Technology:
• Polyculture in homestead
ponds
– Carps (large fish)
– Nutrient-rich Small Fish
• Vegetable
– On pond dykes
– In homestead gardens
Advantages
• Availability of nutrient-rich foods
• Easy to harvest in small
portions for household
consumption
• Production for consumption and
income
3. Homestead production for improved nutrition
• Homestead production
• Nutrient-rich small fish
eaten whole
• Nutrient-rich vegetables
• Rich sources of multiple nutrients:
• Animal-source protein
• Essential fats
• Essential vitamins and minerals
Improved dietary diversity
4. Example of nutrient-rich vegetable production:
Orange-fleshed sweet potatos
• Easy to produce and suitable
for small areas like pond
dykes
• Requires minimal
labor, fertilizer and pesticides
• Vines are easy to preserve
for planting the next season
• Both leaves and roots
provide vitamin A
– Good for the eyes
– Helps the body to fight
diseases
5. Aquaculture/Agricultire - Nutrition Linkages
in FtF Aqua
Package components:
• Pond polyculture of carps and small
fish
• Vegetable production in homestead
garden and on dyke
• Behavior Change Communication
with essential nutrition messages
• Promotion of nutrient-rich small fish
and vegetables, especially for women
and children
• Cooking demonstrations
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Implemented in collaboration with
Helen Keller International, SPRING
and MYAP
6. Complementary food
• Easy nutrient-rich
complementary food made
of local culturally accepted
ingredients
• Dried darkina, orange-
fleshed sweet potato, rice
and soybean oil
• Ground
• Sold in one serving
packages
• Contains essential nutrients
for a young child:
Iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin
A, animal protein and fat
7. Moving Forward
• Increase agricultural field staff’s
knowledge and interest in nutrition
• Increase the production and
variability of nutrient-rich small fish
and vegetables
• Year round vegetable production to
avoid seasonal hunger
• Develop easy methods for catching
small amounts of small fish
• Comprehensive evaluation of
dietary habits
I will present a case study on Aquaculture - Nutrition Linkages from a USAID Feed the Future funded project, FtF Aqua in Bangladesh.
FtF Aqua has four components, and one is specifically on Aquaculture/agriculture in small, household ponds for income and nutrition. FtF aqua promotes increased production of:- Household pond polyculture of large and small fish- Promotion of nutrient-rich vegetables grown in homestead gardens and on pond dykes (including orange-fleshed sweet potatos) Increased production are promoted through training on optimized production methods, and some The production technology which we are promoting is carps with micronutrient-rich small fish. Small fish, for example mola, breed in ponds, are harvested partially, frequently in small amounts and used for household consumption. Unfortunately, due to many factors, the consumption of fish, and in particular, small fish by the poor has decreased. This production technology aims to increase fish consumption and nutrient contribution from fish. At the same time, there is an economic gain – sale of carps for household income.
Let me give the example of promotion of OFSPOFSP integrates well in aquatic agricultural systems can be planted in small areas such as pond dykes and homestead gardensIt requires minimal labour, fertilizer and pesticides; and grows well in marginal soils. It is therefore a valuable food source during times of food scarcity or following natural disasters.Vines are easily preserved by households for planting in the subsequent season.Both roots and leaves are consumed Let me give the example of promotion of OFSPOFSP integrates well in aquatic agricultural systems can be planted in small areas such as pond dykes and homestead gardensIt requires minimal labour, fertilizer and pesticides; and grows well in marginal soils. It is therefore a valuable food source during times of food scarcity or following natural disasters.Vines are easily preserved by households for planting in the subsequent season.Both roots and leaves are consumed
Building on this wealth of expertise and analyses, together with our partners, we have developed the following Aquaculture-Nutrition linkages package in FtF Aqua:In addition to:- Household pond aquaculture (with micronutrient-rich small fish species inclusion of:- Homestead vegetable production in the homestead and on pond dykes, with focus on orange fleshed sweet potato - Promotion of increased consumption of micronutrient-rich fish, vegetables and fruits, especially in the first 1,000 days of life and in adolescent girls- Behaviour change communication for improving knowledge and practice of essential nutrition and essential hygiene actions- Gender norms, attitudes and practices in relation to food purchase, food preparation and processing, intra-household food distribution, work load – production and care, )- Monitoring and evaluation – process and impacts on production, productivity, consumption, nutrition and health
How do we progress:Again we start with fish production – so we must find ways to get our staff to interest themselves and be committed to other areas – vegetable production, consumption, partnership to for better essential and hygiene actions. Scaling up – we wish to reach 200,000 households – what is our approach – not just to reach these households once – but having a sustained approach – not just the life of the FtF Aqua. Monitoring and Impact: Process and improved nutrition and healthIn the first instance, I will be happy to be able to show that the process works – beginning with an aquaculture intervention – this is the first time – and thereafter, being able to show increased dietary diversity in women and young children and increased contribution of micronutrient from fish and vegetables.
Thank you and do visit our activities in Bangladesh.