The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project in Umuahia, Abia state on Thursday held a training of Extension Agents and Desk Officers on Nutrition Mainstreaming and Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture in 10 selected LGAs of the State.
The event held at the Abia-LIFE-ND conference hall had in attendance agro Extension Agents and Desk Officers of Abia LIFE-ND in 10 local government areas of the state.
According to Dr Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, the state project coordinator,(SPC) Abia LIFE-ND, the event is part of the partnership with Agricultural Development Program (ADP) which is documented in their memorandum of understanding (MOU).
In his words: Part of the partnership we had with them is for the support of their extension services at our various communities where we are presently intervening.”
Speaking further about the event, Dr Onyeizu also added that the partnership will also provide technical services and input to Abia LIFE-ND direct beneficiaries in the communities where the project intervention is on going.
One of the consultants Mrs Chioma Obasi, a nutrition expert, explained that the event is centred on nutrition mainstreaming which is the proper thing to do in either agric or rural development which is one of the focus of LIFE-ND. She exhibited her expertise both in theory and practical during the training period.
Mrs Obasi, stated the importance of educating Abia LIFE-ND beneficiaries and extension agents.
“In her words: It is good we educate our beneficiaries and extension agents who will be our eyes in the community, we are educating them on the importance of nutrition mainstreaming.
” We also incorporated desk officers because they are our foot soldiers in the community so that they will be in a better position to do their work well.
“It was an eye opener, many of them never knew that there is so much negative impact if you are deficient in some of the micro nutrients. For instance iodine deficiency could lead to goiter and not processing garri properly can also lead to goiter . So for many of them, they learnt so much and they are looking forward to other trainings.” Mrs Obasi added.
The training also had a practical section which gave the participants a first hand demonstration on how to get the best out of the food, to use the nutrients and how to get the best bio fortified products in everyday food.
The participants of the event however expressed joy having gained a lot from the lecture. Some of the participants who spoke to candidreporters.com admitted having improved knowledge about the importance of proper nutrition.
One of the participants, Victor Isiaka, Abia LIFE-ND desk officer, Ugwunagbo community, while speaking with candidreporters.com correspondent said he learnt the basic importance of nutrition which will be impacted on members of the community in the area he is assigned to as part of LIFE-ND project.
” The consultant has made us know that nutrition is very important. The training today has equiped us to teach the incubatees and members of these communities the importance of nutrition.” Isiaka said.
The importance of enough intake of fruit and vegetables was also emphasized during the training, sighting the important role they play in the body system.
Isiaku Oyeforo, the desk management officer for Abia LIFE-ND, Umuahia south local government area also added that she learnt basic nutrition and healthy pyramids from the training.
“Most times we just eat anything we see without checking the percentage of nutritional value. Now I know that about 35 percent of fruits and vegetables are very important in our body system and food like bread and potatoes(carbohydrates) shouldn’t be loaded in our system, we can take them like 40 percent, fat and oil 5 percent, 20 percent of fish, meat or milk (protein). If that happens, we then have a balanced food in our body system.”Isiaku revealed.
The participants of the training however anticipates more of such training for personal development and the blueprint of LIFE-ND project.
The LIFE-ND Project is being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD). The project is ongoing in the nine Niger-Delta States.
Also involved in the project is the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, The Federal Ministry of Finance, budget and National Planning, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the United Nations.
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