Presentation by Dr Mitulo Silengo from Mulungushi University, Zambia, at the Regional planning meeting on ‘Scaling-Up Climate-Smart Agricultural Solutions for Cereals and Livestock Farmers in Southern Africa – Building partnership for successful implementation’,13–15 September 2016, Johannesburg, South Africa

1. Presented at CTA/SACA/CIMMYT/CCAFS Workshop,
13 September 2016, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mitulo Silengo, PhD
Mulungushi university, Zambia
DIVERSIFIED FARMING AND DIETS – REDUCING
VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN
ZAMBIA

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Introduction
Vital Statistics
Nutrition Situation
Nutrition & Agriculture Governance
Dietary Diversity: Case of Shibuyunji and Lusaka Districts
Missing Links: Human Resource
Gap/Governance/Diversification and Livelihood Options
Concluding Remarks

3. ZAMBIA
• Landlocked country – Surface area 752,614 km2
• 10 geographical regions
• Climate change has increased vulnerability of rural
communities

4. VITAL STATISTICS
Total population: 15.2 million (2015)
Rural population: 61%
Population under 15 years of age: 45%
Life expectancy at birth: 62.0 (female) 58.2 (male)
HDI 0.586 (139/188) (2014)
Rural poverty incidence: 78%
Urban poverty incidence: 27%
Under-five mortality: 75 deaths per 1000 live births in
2013/14
Maternal mortality: 398 deaths per 100,000 live births 2013.

5. VITAL STATISTICS
Agriculture is the economic mainstay for over 80% rural households;
23% of GDP
Agro-ecological conditions influence farming systems (e.g.
shifting/traditional, semi-commercial/commercial, free range/semi-
intensive/intensive pastoral)
Low farm productivity for small farmers is a challenge
 Rain-fed maize is the major staple crop grown (yield – 1.1 t /ha) and
consumed).
 Other crops include soya, groundnuts, tobacco, wheat, cotton, rice,
sorghum)
 Major livestock – cattle, goat, sheep and poultry
Under-nutrition is widespread – 52% of all deaths in children under five
linked to under-nutrition. Chronic food insecurity affects low income
people. Dietary diversity is important.

6. NUTRITION SITUATION
Undernutrition is endemic and responsible for deaths, with stunting
estimated at 40% in children under five years
Micronutrient deficiencies remains a major public health concern
Iron deficiency anemia is 53% among children < 5years and 22.5%
among pregnant women
Vitamin A deficiency is 54% in children; and 13% for women of child-
bearing age
Zinc deficiency estimated at 38% of population
Non-Communicable Diseases such as obesity, hypertension,
cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes among adults are an emerging
public health problem in Zambia
Adult overweight prevalence 29.3%
Obesity prevalence 8.9%
Adult diabetes 8.3%

7. BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR NUTRITION-SPECIFIC AND
NUTRITION-SENSITIVE INTERVENTIONS- ZAMBIA 0.14%
Source: Global Nutrition Report 2016

8. NUTRITION AND AGRICULTURE GOVERNANCE
Since 2000, several policies exist that govern agriculture and FNS in
Zambia. Notable are the National Agricultural Policy (NAP), National
Agriculture Investment Plan, National Food and Nutrition Policy, and
School Health and Nutrition Policy.
Several major national players include: the Ministries of Health,
Agriculture and Livestock, and Education. Ministries of Commerce
(through Zambia Bureau of Standards) and the National Institute for
Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) play an indirect role.
The National Food and Nutrition Commission is a statutory body under
the Ministry of Health. It plays a promotional and advisory role.
Facilitates nutrition training at several levels including at field level.
Communicates key messages and coordinates Nutrition Groups in
various districts.
Several international organizations and NGOs also operate in the food,
agriculture and nutrition domains in Zambia. Coherence is a
challenge

9. DIETARY DIVERSITY IN SHIBUYUNJI AND LUSAKA
DISTRICTS: RESULTS OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS AND
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS
94% of households grew maize as the major food crop, with
7% grew groundnuts, sweet potatoes, sunflower, okra and
egg-plants in addition to maize.
Maize is mainly grown for the staple food nshima (made
from maize flour and water) eaten with soup or sauce and
relish, eaten with a variety of vegetables such as rape
(Brassica carinata), beans, or fish, chicken and meat.
Few households (9%) had two meals per day.
Consumption of more than two meals was dependent upon
good harvests and during those periods, 87% of households
attested to eating three meals per day.
Most households consumed the same food components for
lunch and supper. Meat, in most cases, was consumed once
a month by most of the households.

10. DIETARY DIVERSITY IN SHIBUYUNJI AND LUSAKA
DISTRICTS: RESULTS OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
AND FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Food items not grown, and other items such as cooking oil
and salt, are purchased using income earned from selling
crops such as cotton and surplus maize.
This is also typical of urban settlements where food is
purchased from common food outlets such as markets.
The price of food substances has a great influence on the
type or nutrition value of food purchased by the majority of
households.
This has resulted in many households consuming vegetable
foods at the expense of balancing their diets.
Meat products such as beef and chicken are consumed
mostly once every week or at the end of the month when
those in formal employment get paid.

11. DIETARY DIVERSITY IN SHIBUYUNJI AND LUSAKA
DISTRICTS: RESULTS OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
AND FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS
48% grew crops and kept livestock for sale and consumption.
In rural Shibuyunji, livestock (especially cattle) are kept for cultural
prestige and only sold in emergency situations.
Goats and chickens are also kept on large scale by many households.
Non-consumption of certain food on religious grounds such cat fish
(Clarias spp), pork, caterpillars, mice, ducks and game meat is
common.
Nshima is the main food consumed in Mtendere and Kalingalinga for
lunch and supper with vegetables and eaten with chicken, fish,
Kapenta (sardine) (Limnothrissa miodon), beef, sausages or eggs.
68% respondents consumed 3 meals per day and 20% 2 meals per
day.
Most households could not afford to buy fruits due to their high cost.

12. DIETARY DIVERSITY: IN A NUTSHELL
Maize meal (Nshima) is the main staple food
consumed by Zambian with a variety of vegetables,
beans, or fish, chicken and meat.
Meat is consumed once a month. Fruit, meat, chicken
and fish consumption is low (due to high cost)
On average, few household have two meals per day.
Most households eat the same food for lunch and
supper.
Consumption of more than two meals is dependent
upon good harvests (this has implications under a
changing climate) and economic status

13. MISSING LINK: HUMAN RESOURCE GAP
Source: Revised-Sixth National Development Plan 2013-2016

14. MISSING LINKS: GOVERNANCE
Emphasis has been on achieving food security
(still an illusive goal) at the expense of nutrition
security.
Nutrition education programmes at household
level are lacking.
Inter-sectoral linkages and coordination are weak
among Agriculture, Health, Education and other
sectors and development partners.
Education and Communication interventions are
lacking. Linkages especially between key actors
are vital for achieving behaviour change.

15. MISSING LINKS: DIVERSIFICATION &
LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS
Mofya-Mukuka and Kuhgatz (2014) observed that
diversification and commercialization could improve
incomes, enhance sources of protein and calories and
reduce wasting and underweight status of children by
delivering a high amount of nutrients.
Fish farming can provide cheap protein source as well
as income and can be integral to reducing flooding
and risks of drought
Rearing small ruminants and raising free-range village
chickens can also expand protein and income.
Beekeeping and honey production is also an option
and provides additional income as well as conserves
trees.

16. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Coordination among Ministries of Agriculture, Health and
education critical to foster linkages of food production,
good nutrition and nutrition education.
Nutrition education should go hand-in-hand with
agricultural production and consumption.
Need for increased budgetary allocation for nutrition
specific interventions.
Need to train more nutritionists for effective transfer of
nutrition-related information to the general population,
especially at household level.

17. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Rural households are at risk from negative impacts of climate
change.
Promoting climate-resilient agriculture and diversification of
rural livelihoods can contribute to improving incomes and
nutrition outcomes.
Need to advocate for increased budgetary allocation for
nutrition specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions.
Need to advocate for more trained nutritionists and community
workers and closer linkages with agricultural officers for
effective transfer of nutrition-related information, especially at
household level to ensure dietary diversity, greater resilience
and improved nutrition outcomes.