In an effort to reduce the burden of malnutrition in Kano state, a multi stake holder engagement meeting was held with ensand project 2.0 on ways to improve on nutrition outcomes in the state.
Delivery, her welcome remarks the representative of the country Director Michael Ojo, the project manager Ensand Project, GHAIN Irowa Erhbour said that the inaugural meeting was held early this year as this is the second meeting with the state advisory committee.
The project manager said that the essence of the multi stakeholder engagement meeting is to enhance the dietary quality of the less privileged in the community.
“ We want people to consume diverse vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, bell pepper and spinach, as this all are indigenous food which are locally sourced and can be found everywhere in each communities in so doing, the quality of their diet will be improved. As the value chain of our project is on vegetables/ fruits and fortified rice
Erhabor stated that the time duration for the project is for two years from 2024- 2025 ,but depending on the performance the project might be extended till 2026.
She then emphasized on the need for the stakeholders to own the process as any project implemented by development partner is within a short span.
The project is presently working in Kano, Kaduna and kebbi states.
She further said that In Kano about ten LGAs have been selected which includes Gabasawa, madobi, Danbatta, Bebeji, Tudun/ wada, Ajingi, Doguwa, Rano, Gezawa and Wudil.
In his good will message, the representative of the commissioner Kano state ministry of planning and Budget, the Acting Permanent Secretary Mallam Abdul Ladan Ajumawa, applauded the Ensand project 2.0 for their commitment and call on participants to concentrate and bring in meaning full contributions in ensuring the food system in the state is improved as this will address the prevalence rate of malnutrition among children.
The farm radio international making a presentation on the project awareness creation said that so far about ten thousand three hundred vegetable farmers have been engaged as the first activity was on sensitising the vegetable farmers and their neighbours to be aware of the importance of consuming vegetables.
The selected farmers are vegetables farmers only as their are lists of farmers working closely with diamond development initiative.
The first activity with the vegetable farmers is on awareness and sensitisation then followed by a compound meeting bringing farmers and neighbours together to interact and discuss on the benefits of vegetable consumption.
Followed by food demonstration on how these vegetables are consumed by nutrition experts.
On his part the diamond development initiative (DDI) Francis Adederi Aderibgbe gave an overview of the project access to vegetables pathway said that about twenty demonstration plots were established in the first batch as well another twenty demo plots well be set aside for the extension agents to work with lead farmers on the demo plots.
He said that in each LGAs there are about two demo plots.
Whereby the farmer provides a small space to use for demonstration for all the four vegetables that are planted within the space of land with the technical guidance of the Extension Agents which afterwards it is then show cased to the community.
