Tackling hunger with cassava #nigeria

HarvestPlus, in this report, chronicles some of its efforts to deal with the problem of nutrition deficiency termed as hidden hunger, a far more intractable challenge than the actual hunger many are familiar with In an attempt to combat the adverse effects of hidden hunger in Nigeria, HarvestPlus, an international and interdisciplinary research program that seeks to reduce micronutrient malnutrition, has released new species of vitamin A cassava into the Nigerian agricultural market. HaervestPlus specialises in harnessing the powers of agriculture and nutrition research to breed nutrient-dense staple foods Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Ibadan recently, Country Manager of HarvestPlus Nigeria, Paul Ilona, was enthusiastic about the vitamin A species of cassava, a groundbreaking discovery in the history of global agriculture. "Now, farmers can grow their own nutrients," he said. According to Ilona, hidden hunger (also known as micronutrient deficiency) is a major public health problem in developing countries, caused by a lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet. Often, the signs of this form of malnutrition are 'hidden' as individuals may look healthy, but suffer extremely negative impacts on health and well being, leading to conditions like illness, blindness, premature death, reduced productivity, and impaired mental development. Although the Federal Government, since 2003, had made it mandatory for basic foods in the country like flour, sugar, oil, to be fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, about 75 percent of Nigerians live in the rural areas and still tend to grow their own foods. So, it was necessary for HarvestPlus, leading the global charge to make food more nutritious, to move from food fortification into bio-fortification, where crops can be fortified from the soil, naturally. Paul noted that the success of vitamin A cassava was a big leap towards ridding the nation of the effects of hidden hunger. Cassava - from where products like garri, fufu, and others come from - is a staple food in most parts of the country, and with it being fortified with vitamin A, a very essential micro-nutrient, means that ordinary people can have access to it.