Malawi’s smallholder farming families could be producing more food without necessarily eating better, prompting a fresh push to turn farm harvests into healthier and more diverse household diets.
The initiative is being rolled out under the five-year Integrating Aquaculture-Agriculture to Combat Food Insecurity in Malawi (IAAM) Project, which is targeting farming communities in eight districts.
Speaking when updating the Dowa District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC), Value Chain Development Specialist John Magombo said increased production does not automatically translate into improved nutrition.
“The project is seeking to strengthen the pathway from production to food availability, income, food access, dietary diversity, improved nutrition and food security,” Magombo said.
Running from 2024 to 2028, the project is being implemented in Chitipa, Mzimba, Rumphi, Nkhotakota, Dowa, Ntchisi, Thyolo and Zomba.
In Dowa, 217 households from Nachisaka, Mponela, Mndolera, Bowe, Kayembe and Dzoole Extension Planning Areas are being targeted.
The project promotes integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems, combining fish, crops, livestock and agroforestry to help households produce a wider variety of food while generating income.
But its focus goes beyond production.
Magombo said the nutrition component will strengthen household knowledge on food preparation and utilisation, dietary diversity and gender-responsive nutrition practices.
The interventions will include community nutrition activities, technical training, extension support and cooking demonstrations.
Nutrition-sensitive production will also be incorporated into training for farmers participating in the integrated farming programme.
“These interventions are intended to help households not only produce food, but also understand how to prepare, combine and utilise the foods they produce to improve household diets,” Magombo said.
The project places particular emphasis on women, recognising their central role in food production, preparation and utilisation at household level.
Magombo said this makes gender-responsive approaches important in ensuring that increased agricultural production leads to better nutrition outcomes.
The initiative is being implemented with Community Agribusiness Partners, Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives, Malawi Federation of Co-operatives, LUANAR, Advocacy for Women Fish Network and Women’s Legal Resource Centre.
Meanwhile, Dowa District Council Chief Agricultural Officer Japhet Zingani has called for stronger coordination among DNCC members to ensure nutrition interventions reach communities effectively.
Zingani urged the committee to hold regular meetings and called for increased support from development partners to strengthen nutrition coordination in the district.
He said continued collaboration among stakeholders would help improve the wellbeing of communities in Dowa.
The initiative is being rolled out under the five-year Integrating Aquaculture-Agriculture to Combat Food Insecurity in Malawi (IAAM) Project, which is targeting farming communities in eight districts.
Speaking when updating the Dowa District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC), Value Chain Development Specialist John Magombo said increased production does not automatically translate into improved nutrition.
“The project is seeking to strengthen the pathway from production to food availability, income, food access, dietary diversity, improved nutrition and food security,” Magombo said.
Running from 2024 to 2028, the project is being implemented in Chitipa, Mzimba, Rumphi, Nkhotakota, Dowa, Ntchisi, Thyolo and Zomba.
In Dowa, 217 households from Nachisaka, Mponela, Mndolera, Bowe, Kayembe and Dzoole Extension Planning Areas are being targeted.
The project promotes integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems, combining fish, crops, livestock and agroforestry to help households produce a wider variety of food while generating income.
But its focus goes beyond production.
Magombo said the nutrition component will strengthen household knowledge on food preparation and utilisation, dietary diversity and gender-responsive nutrition practices.
The interventions will include community nutrition activities, technical training, extension support and cooking demonstrations.
Nutrition-sensitive production will also be incorporated into training for farmers participating in the integrated farming programme.
“These interventions are intended to help households not only produce food, but also understand how to prepare, combine and utilise the foods they produce to improve household diets,” Magombo said.
The project places particular emphasis on women, recognising their central role in food production, preparation and utilisation at household level.
Magombo said this makes gender-responsive approaches important in ensuring that increased agricultural production leads to better nutrition outcomes.
The initiative is being implemented with Community Agribusiness Partners, Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives, Malawi Federation of Co-operatives, LUANAR, Advocacy for Women Fish Network and Women’s Legal Resource Centre.
Meanwhile, Dowa District Council Chief Agricultural Officer Japhet Zingani has called for stronger coordination among DNCC members to ensure nutrition interventions reach communities effectively.
Zingani urged the committee to hold regular meetings and called for increased support from development partners to strengthen nutrition coordination in the district.
He said continued collaboration among stakeholders would help improve the wellbeing of communities in Dowa.
