The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Food

  • Christmas : Church feeds 4,739 needy people in Ogun

    Christmas : Church feeds 4,739 needy people in Ogun

    Over 4,739 needy residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State  capital, thronged the Treasure House of God on Christmas Day for the church’s annual “Jesus Feast,” meant to cater for them.
    The church located on Quarry road, beside Agbeloba area of the town,  distributed liberally, raw beef and rice to each of the 4,739 less – privileged  – comprising widows, widowers, youths, students and physically challenged to make the Yuletide a worthwhile one for them.
    The exercise which was made seamless through efficient crowd control and use of  tags as gate passes  for the beneficiaries, was preceded by a short service presided over by the Church’s Associate Pastor, Lenus Taylor.
    Taylor told journalists  that the gesture was part  of the church’s ways of sharing the love of God in Christ with the indigents during the Christmas as initiated by the General Overseer, Seye Senfuye.
    “The programme is necessitated by the love of God and the love for humanity that the founder of this ministry, Pastor Adeseye Senfuye have for the people and the Christ.
    “It is scriptural that we should extend our hand of fellowship to the less-privileged. We have 4,700 gifts for people and the content of a package is meat and rice. We don’t discriminate whether you are a Christian or Muslim.
    “No political undertone. This is why we are distributing it in the church.  We have been doing it for some time now and it increases yearly. Last year, 1, 000 people benefited. This year, it is about 5,000. By the grace of God next year, it will get to 50, 000.
    “My advice for the people is to continue to pray for those in government so that they will do what is right. Once they do what is right, everyone of us will definitely enjoy it,” Lenus said.
    A beneficiary identified as Mrs Olutoyin Adeyemi lauded the church for the gesture.
    Olutoyin urged the government, other churches and well-meaning Nigerians to remember the needy members in their midst and assist them.
     “Nigerians should be their brothers’ keeper. Those that have should give to those who don’t have. People should stop accumulating wealth for themselves because it would be useless when they die,” she said.

  • Fertiliser import boosts food production

    The increase in fertiliser importation between January and early this month led to a boost in local rice production, The Nation has learnt.

    The Federal Government was said to have imported one million tons of fertiliser (about 20 million 50 kilogramme (kg) bags of fertiliser) through the Lagos and Tincan Island ports between January and the first week of this month.

    Findings showed that both ports took delivery of 254,157 metric tons of the product valued at N27.95billion from eight vessels.

    Some farmers said the fertiliser imported from Morocco and Europe was sold to them at N5, 500 per bag.

    The last batch of 157, 000 tons scheduled for the last three months arrived the country and was cleared, while the last vessel, V. Sanderling berthed at ENL Terminal few days ago with 43, 180 tons.

    Since the beginning of the year, the country was said to have received at least 957,000 metric tons of the product from ENL Consortium Terminal at the Lagos Port and JosepDam Terminal in Tincan Island Port.

    The fertiliser was ferried to the seaports by Orient Tiger laden with 19, 892 tons; SFL Humber, 37,800 tons; Nord Mumba, 3,570 tons; Desert Calm, 46,200 tons; Team Tango, 13, 199 tons; Silver Lake, 25, 000tons; Skala Wolid,  31,246 tons;  Atlantic Tramp, 36,250 tons and Ionian Eagle, 41,000 tons.

    Also, between last May and June, some 343,657 metric tons of Muriate of Potash (MOP) arrived Lagos and Tincan Island ports, while 359,006 tons of Nitrogen Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK) were imported into the country between July and November.

    Last year, the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Morocco to import NPK and some companies in Europe MOP.

    Following the agreement, the government promised that one million tons of NPK and MOP fertiliser would be exported in five batches of 200,000 metric tons before the end of the year as part of efforts to find solution to food shortage and to further reduce the price of food in the country.

    In the MoU, government explained that it would control 40 per cent shares, while IML Limited, a consortium of private local investors, would hold the remaining 60 per cent equity stake.

    Following the massive importation of the products, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said recently that the Federal Government would further reduce the price of fertiliser to cut down the price of locally produced rice.

  • Lake rice, others: ‘Policy continuity ‘ll help Nigeria attain food security’

    Lake rice, others: ‘Policy continuity ‘ll help Nigeria attain food security’

    An agricultural economist, Prof. John Aihonsu, has advised state and Federal governments to sustain the current agricultural policies and programmes targeted at boosting food supply and self-sufficiency in food productions across the country.

    Aihonsu said Nigeria would have long overcome its food shortage dilemma without resorting to huge importation, if previous agricultural policies designed and started by past governments were not jettisoned by succeeding administrations.

    The expert spoke at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) at Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State while delivering the institution’s 78th inaugural lecture.

    The expert said there should be continuity of the current efforts at state and national levels to increase food production and supply.

    He noted that the country would not achieve food security or sufficiency if the condition of the farmers was not “prosperous.”

    He suggested that the fortune of farmers can be made prosperous through assisting them financially to experience a “sustained improvement in productivity and income availability.”

    Delivering his lecture, titled: Addressing Nigeria’s Food Shortage Dilemma: The Cooperative Agenda, Aihonsu advised every succeeding administration to sustain and not abandon the policies of previous governments, which were targeted at helping Nigerian farmers to increase their productivity and tackle the nation’s “food shortage dilemma”.

    The professor identified over 15 previous agricultural programmes, including the Operation Feed the Nation and Farm Settlement Scheme, which could have placed Nigeria on the path of self-sustenance in food production and consumption, if they were not abandoned by succeeding administrations.

  • Food and water poisoning: Cholera and other bacteria

    Food and water poisoning: Cholera and other bacteria

    You may be forgiven to think that cholera no longer exists. In my teen years, cholera was a scourge in Nigeria so much that a very popular Juju musician ensured as part of his campaign to prevent the illness from spreading, sang an indelible memorial songs to cholera. Folks who lived through the 1970s and 1980’s will recall some of these songs.

    Cholera is a state of acute diarrhoea caused by a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. Like all food and water poisoning, the disease of cholera develops from contamination of our food and water. About 140,000 people die of cholera yearly, world-wide.

    I had earlier explained last week’s, what is meant by incubation. In the case of cholera, the period is about 12 hours to five days. Few infection, if any, kills faster than cholera by reason that cholera drains the individual of water and nutrients within hours of its onset and death could set in speedily. Cholera kills faster than the deadly and fearful Ebola.  It affects both adult and children and like most illnesses, children are often most severely affected.

    What are the symptoms of cholera? It should be noted that not everyone who contracted the bacteria will progress to illness. Some may just feel ill in a mild way. In minority of cases, the symptom can be very severe and sudden: the principal symptom is watery diarrhoea— frequently going to move the bowel. Nothing stays in the gut. The songs which I mentioned above, made mention of frequent watery stools and bullet –like vomiting that shoots out of mouth. While vomiting may occur, the principal problem is diarrhoea.

    Treatment:  Thank goodness that cholera can easily be treated once recognised. The key is to rehydrate the sufferer. Therefore, everyone should be aware of and know how to prepare oral rehydration therapy (ORT). All nursing mothers should also take note of how to prepare ORT (or ORS). For cholera patients, the World Health Organisation/UNICEF ORS standard sachet is to have one sachet of ORS dissolved in one litre of clean water. The water could be boiled water that is allowed to cool down and the ORS poured in. Alternatively, ORS can be prepared by adding five cubes of sugar (five level of teaspoon) plus one level spoon of salt into one litre of water. Adult patients suffering from cholera may require up to 6 L of ORS to treat moderate dehydration on the first day.

    Other patients that are severely dehydrated will require intravenous fluid being given rapidly. For children, breast feeding should be continued and antibiotics be given to both adult and children.

    I cannot overemphasise the importance of accessing skilled medical treatment as soon as possible irrespective of ORS or not

    Prevention

    Again, as in the case of all food and water poisoning, prevention steps are very important in dealing with cholera and all forms of food poisoning.

    Cooked food that is stored anywhere, such as rice stored in the fridge, should be reheated thoroughly before eating. As in typhoid, clean your hands well after defeacating. Consuming only clean water and well-cooked food is the key to preventing cholera. Boil the water if necessary. Infected food handlers should be excluded from making or handling food until he or she is clinically cleared of the infection.

    However, like most things that is wrong with Nigeria, enforcement of basic rules and laws by designated responsible persons in private and public domains is clearly the weak point in any effort to deal with and reduce food poisoning illnesses.

    Vaccination: Cholera can be prevented by vaccination. There are three types of vaccines. All three require two doses for full protection.

    Other Bacteria Poisoning Our Food:

    In general, our food and water should not contain hostile bacteria, parasites and viruses. Any time we consume such germs, we will fall ill. Other bacteria that commonly affects our health through our food and water are E.coli and listeria. No matter the bacteria, the important thing we should be aware of is to maintain  personal food hygiene, wash and clean our vegetables, reheat cooked food that had been stored and avoid street-vendor foods. We should also take note that the mere fact that a food chain  on the high street, is popular does not give it a clean slate. We should exercise discretion in our food choices.

  • Green Energy gives oil communities medical treatment, food

    About 2000 indigenes of communities in Andoni Local government in Rivers State have  benefited from the on going yearly medical outreach  sponsored by the Green Energy International ltd, operator of the Otakikpo marginal field in OML 11 for its host communities.

    The firm is supported by its technical partners Lekoil Oil and Gas investment.

    Speaking to reporters at Ikuru town at the  kick-off of the  campaign in the community, the medical consultant for the programme, Dr Christopher Obiorah said the treatment offered free of any charges include medical diagnosis and examination, free eye treatment and distribution of glasses, dental treatment, deworming of children, and surgery for critical ailments. Also critical drugs and insecticide treated nets were given to the beneficiaries,while food items such as rice and beverages were given to community elders, women, and youths for the yuletide.

    Director,  Sustainable Development,  Ayo Olojede made this known  in a statement yesterday.

    The statement noted that Obiora said the outreach involved host communities of the Otakikpo marginal field  which are Ikuru town, the principal landlord and other host communities comprising Ayama Ekede, Ugama Ekede, Asuama and Asu Oyet, and neighboring villages in Andoni Local Government Area.

    Obiorah said the surgeries have been most successful with few referrals of emergency cases to University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital.

    In his address,  Olojede, said the programme which began in 2015 will be sustained as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility for the well being of the citizens of the host communities.

    He said the company, which began production from its two wells in February 2017, consider the medical outreach as a critical programme to improve the socio economic development of the host communities .

    Olojede pledged his company’s support to finance  surgical operations for those referred to the teaching hospital.

    The Okanma of Ikuru Town, His Majesty Aaron Ikuru, who was excited at the treatment , praised the company for always investing in the well-being and development of his people. He said the company’s gesture is appreciated by all and sundry considering that the company despite being a marginal field has continued to invest in human development, a critical activity that has been neglected by many oil companies.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Community Trust Fund for the foursome communities, Chief Gadd Harry said many people who has been under bondage of ill-health has been liberated by the company ‘s gesture. He pleaded with the company to assist In providing medical personnel for the many abandoned health centers in the area.

  • Food and water poisoning: Typhoid disease

    Let me be clear about this from the outset and let the reader take good note of my warning: typhoid disease is deadly.  The good news though is that if we stick with diligent preventive measures as well as take urgent step to receive treatment when we fall ill to typhoid, typhoid can be defeated.

    As I mentioned last week under the general discussion on food and water poisoning, typhoid is very common. Perhaps second only to malaria illness that most doctors in our environment will consider when an individual presents with fever especially if such fever is associated with abdominal/tummy pain/ache and loose or soft frequent stools (poo).  Therefore, typhoid illness is very common and equally as deadly.Typhoid affects about 21million people and kills about 200,000 people yearly in the world (malaria kills about 600,000 by comparison). Without speed and effective treatment, about 12 percent-30 per cent of the people affected by typhoid will die (compare 50-70per cent death recorded under Ebola). Even if a person is treated, about five per cent of the afflicted will continue to serve as a carrier of the disease.

    What causes typhoid? Typhoid disease is caused by a bacterium called salmonella typhi. Equally lethal is the sister of the salmonella typhi called salmonella paratyphi. Except for academic purposes, in practical terms, the progression of the illness caused by either form of the salmonella is immaterial. The clinical symptoms and treatment are similar. When our food and water are contaminated by feaces/stool (poo), typhoid could result.

    For ease of understanding and for the sake of our discussion, let us therefore refer to the illness as “typhoid” and nothing as “paratyhi”

    What are the symptoms and signs of typhoid?  The symptoms may not necessarily follow in any particular order as we respond differently to different conditions when we are challenged. Also, children are particularly vulnerable. They may not be able to accurately describe what they are feeling. As a result, the illness of typhoid may become more severe in children and could kill so easily because of this fact.

    Therefore, the fact that someone who had typhoid failed to have fever is not to say that the loose stools or bowel movement which may be the only symptom alone may not be due to typhoid. Any change in a person’s health especially as pertaining to food, bowel and appetite must therefore be thoroughly investigated.

    With these caveats in mind, let us now deal with clinical features of typhoid.

    The most frequent and important symptoms and signs are changes in the bowel functions which may be associated with general signs of infection. Like any other infection, typhoid has its own incubation period. Incubation period is the time between when the germ lands in the human body and the first time when the victim starts to experience illness. The bowel changes may be nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal (tummy) discomfort, vomiting, loose stools, stooling that seems to relieve the abdominal pain but returns as soon as new food reaches the bowel. The victim, loses energy and thus get tired stemming from often frequent loose soft stools, loss of appetite and vomiting. Confusion and headache could also set in.

    Fever could be extremely high: as high as 39-40ºCelcius.  If untreated, complications may start to set in. Such complications may be perforation of parts of the bowel with possible bleeding internally.

    If the earlier symptoms do not kill the person, the latter complications may become fatal. Within a matter of three weeks from onset of illness, the person may be dead.

    Diagnosis: The illness needs confirmation via blood, urine or stool samples. But delay for confirmation should not be a barrier to starting treatment. The use of and demand for “Widal” test is not confirmatory and is often not the best indicator of the illness. In my practice, I will collect samples for relevant tests and then start the treatment immediately.

    Prevention: You can do a lot to prevent typhoid illness. Dispose of stools/feaces(poo) adequately. When you visit the toilet, ensure you wash your hands after. As a rule of thumb, avoid if possible, from eating outside your home. Food vendors/sellers outside the home are often dispensers of typhoid.  Avoid eating the food whose origin and cook you do not know of. A key source of spread of typhoid is food sellers or vendors. Food outlet owners need to regularly screen their staff for typhoid and other infections. If you are in doubt of the food and water, cook or re-heat the water or food until either is steaming hot before eating.  Drink only well sourced or bottled water.

    Also importantly, there are vaccines that can provide partial immunity against typhoid and this immunity could last two years. So, vulnerable persons, children and travelers should consider receiving this vaccination.   However if illness starts, ensure you ask for medical help immediately.

  • Food and beverage workers begin indefinite strike

    Food and beverage workers begin indefinite strike

    Sequel to their protest last week over the refusal of their employers to review the expired bi-yearly collective agreement on salaries and fringe benefits, the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has begun  an indefinite strike.

    A meeting was held on  December 8 between members of FOBTOB and their employers, Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), to reconcile.

    FOBTOB had earlier called for the upward  review of their salary by 20 per cent as against the current 14 per cent, which, according to them, is the lowest rate in the past 17 years.

    In a statement signed by FOBTOB National President Comrade Quadri Olaleye, the union said: “With the majority of our employers being multinationals such as Flour Mills of Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria Plc, A & P Pladis Foods, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Ajinomoto, Deli Foods, Dangote Industries, Nestle, Cadbury Nigeria, Dufil Prima Indomie, among others, it is unacceptable to us that they continue to discriminate against our members in the payment of salaries and fringe benefits after having met their targets and remained profitable.

    “It is on record that throughout our industry, all other cadres have in the past months enjoyed a review in their salaries and fringe benefits while the Senior Staff and Managers have been tactically abandoned.

    “To this effect, we are calling all our members nationwide to embark on a national strike action to compel the AFBTE to reach an equally acceptable agreement from December 11, 2017 as from 12am prompt.”

    Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has condemned outrightly AFBTE  members’ decision to deny a reasonable increment of 20 per cent in the ongoing negotiation between the employers’ body and FOBTOB members at the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC).

    The congress in a statement by its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, was worried that this long overdue increment cum benefit, which is clearly affordable within the industry and has in fact, already been awarded to the junior staff could now be allowed to degenerate into a nationwide strike at this critical festive period when products of the industry would be in higher demand.

    He said: “Increasing the wages of the junior staff to the extent that they (junior staff) now prefer not to be promoted to management level for us is a deliberate attempt to spite our members and it further speaks volume of the injustice in the system.

    “We are equally concerned about the posture of the representatives of the employers at the NJIC negotiations. It appears the NJIC was deliberately constituted to spite the senior staff. Any act to diminish the dignity of our members is unacceptable.”

  • Food and water poisoning: How to tame the widespread killers

    About few years ago, I had stopped over in one of the fast food chains in Lagos to eat. I had only eaten a meat pie and some gizzards. I was certain I did not consume anything else until the following day when I started vomiting with frequent bowel movements and severe abdominal pain.

    It took a great medical effort to bring my health into normality. I had a repeat of the same experience within the last 36 months when I bought a piece of roast plantain on the roadside.

    A female friend of mine who had just returned from the United Kingdom (UK) three weeks ago had bought some foods from a popular fast-food chain also, only to end up in our hospital facility few days after with severe vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, reduced appetite, generalised weakness and fever.

    The above is a tip of the iceberg of the experience of Nigerians when it comes to food poisoning. Like malaria, food poisoning is as common, affecting both men and women, children and adult alike. Depending on the lifestyles of the individual, class of the victim may not really be of any barrier against food poisoning. I have come across professionals, bank directors, company CEOs, business owners, politicians and so forth who had suffered from various forms of food poisoning.

    In the following series, I will be writing on causes of food and water poisoning focusing on the common agents such as salmonella typhi that is commonly known as Typhoid disease E.coli and other bacterial contamination of our food and drinks. Cholera is still a menace in Nigeria, breaking out occasionally in different parts of the country. Viruses and chemicals also cause food and water diseases that afflict us severely. We will also be dealing with treatment and preventions of these illnesses. For now, let us take a closer look at origin of food and water poisoning.

     

    Causes of food and water poisoning

    I will rely on World Health Organsation (WHO) for guidance on this. Credit to WHO too.

    As I mentioned earlier, food and water poisoning may be caused by various agents.

     

    Bacteria

    Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli are among the most common foodborne pathogens that affect millions of people annually – sometimes with severe and fatal outcomes. Symptoms are fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Examples of foods involved in outbreaks of salmonellosis are eggs, poultry and other products of animal origin.  Salmonellosis are not often reported or experienced in our environment unlike diseases of typhoid.

    Because of its great importance in our environment and the damage it causes us, I will discuss Salmonella typhi and paratyhi (typhoid diseases) separately next week.

    Foodborne cases with Campylobacter are mainly caused by raw milk, raw or undercooked poultry and drinking water. Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (E.coli) are associated with unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat and fresh fruits and vegetables.

    Listeria infection leads to unplanned abortions in pregnant women or death of newborn babies. Although disease occurrence is relatively low, listeria’s severe and sometimes fatal health consequences, particularly among infants, children and the elderly, count them among the most serious food borne infections. Listeria is found in unpasteurised dairy products and various ready-to-eat foods and can grow at refrigeration temperatures.

    Vibrio cholerae infects people through contaminated water or food. Again, due to the importance of cholera in our environment, I will devote a separate article in this series on Cholera.

    Meanwhile, regarding viruses, the following are the major causes of food and water poisoning.  Norovirus infections are characterized by nausea, explosive vomiting, watery diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Hepatitis A virus can cause long-lasting liver disease and spreads typically through raw or undercooked seafood or contaminated raw produce. Infected food handlers are often the source of food contamination. We will examine issue of hepatitis A further in the series.

     

    Parasites

    Some parasites, such as fish-borne trematodes or worms, are only transmitted through food. Others, for example tapeworms like Echinococcus spp, or Taenia solium, may infect people through food or direct contact with animals. Other parasites, such as Ascaris, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica or Giardia (common in our environment), enter the food chain via water or soil and can contaminate fresh produce.

     

    Chemicals

    Of most concern for health are naturally occurring toxins and environmental pollutants.  Naturally occurring toxins include mycotoxins, marine biotoxins, cyanogenic glycosides and toxins occurring in poisonous mushrooms. Staple foods like corn or cereals can contain high levels of mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin and ochratoxin, produced by mould on grain. A long-term exposure can affect the immune system and normal development, or cause cancer. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are compounds that accumulate in the environment and human body. Known examples are dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are unwanted by-products of industrial processes and waste incineration. They are found worldwide in the environment and accumulate in animal food chains. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and cause cancer. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury cause neurological and kidney damage. Contamination by heavy metal in food occurs mainly through pollution of air, water and soil.

    From next weeks, we shall discuss in detail, illnesses, such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A and D.

    Finally, I shall touch on chemicals that poison us in our food and drinks.

  • Sound Sultan, Vector, Niniola unite for food

    Sound Sultan, Vector, Niniola unite for food

    It was a carnival of music, comedy and food penultimate Friday at Queens Park Centre, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, as top Nigerian entertainers teamed up to sing against hunger as well as pronounce the significance of agriculture.

    Organised by HEDA Resource Centre in conjunction with Voice for Food Security and Oxfam Nigeria, the “United for Food Concert” was headlined by Naija Ninja sensation and Oxfam ambassador, Sound Sultan. It equally paraded some other popular artistes like Vector Tha Viper, Baba Dee, Niniola, Blackah, Lami and Lawizzy while DJ Spinall was on the wheel of steel.

    Anchored by MC Ushbebe, the show opened with a coterie of up and coming acts before Vector Tha Viper came on stage to sing hits like ‘Lose Myself’ and ‘King Kong’. Other artistes followed in quick succession.

    Rocking a black top over a black pant, Niniola wowed the audience with her performance of tracks like ‘This Is Me’ and ended with ‘Maradona.’ By the time Sound Sultan mounted the stage, the show had reached its climax, as he was joined by Baba Dee.

    However, the revelation of the night was Vanessa Jones, a five-year-old sensation, who dazzled the audience with her vocal prowess and acrobatic display on stage. Other highlights of the day were dancing and eating competitions that saw many going home with prizes including mobile phones, T-shirts, Faze caps, recharge cards and food items among others.

    Commenting on the concert, Sound Sultan urged Nigerians and governments at all levels to invest in agriculture so as to ensure food security in the country.

    “The ‘United for Food Concert’ is part of our efforts to inspire Nigerian youths to become active citizens and demand accountability from our leaders,” he said.

    “Today, one person in three in the world lives in poverty.

    “Our vision is a secure and prosperous Nigeria, where the benefits from economic growth are shared so the basic needs of all people are met… As the giant and largest economy in Africa, no Nigerian deserves to go to bed hungry.”

  • All set for 2017 food fair

    Attracting hundreds of thousands of food producers and consumers annually, this year’s Nutritious Food Fair (NFF) will open on November 28 through 30 at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu State.

    Following the huge success in last year, over a thousand of exhibitors are expected to join this year to launch new products and look for business opportunities.

    HarvestPlus Country Manager – Nigeria, Dr  Paul Ilona,  said the food expo, which has become the  signature event in the food industry  has recorded significant growth in the number of exhibitors.

    This year’s fair, according to him, which will feature food supplies from different parts of the country and has the following specific objectives: increase the production, value addition, marketing and consumption of more nutritious foods made from biofortified staple crops.

    Ilona said HarvestPlus and its partners have developed new varieties of staple food crops that provide higher amounts of vitamin A, iron, or zinc to consumers.

    The key goal, he added, is to create over 3000 new job opportunities using successful private sector partners and master trainers to train and mentor participants, in addition to providing post-training technical support.

    Others are strengthening  value chain linkages by ensuring the physical presence of banks, seed companies, food companies, agri-input dealers, equipment fabricators, marketers and other relevant stakeholders, unveiling  the largest nutritious cassava dish towards creating a Guinness World Record and launching  the ‘Smart Mother’ as an umbrella body to mobilise women to be nutrition sensitive.

    Consumers, he added, will also find a world of food offerings, including special events such as cooking demonstrations by star chefs, seminars on food safety and traditional dances and entertainment sessions will round up a fun experience for all visitors.

    Another highlight included grande-finale of nutriquiz competition for secondary schools, cooking competition for women and men and for farmers.

    The food fair has been an annual flagship event of HarvestPlus since its inception in 2015, and one many people nationwide looked forward to.