By Alex Byakatonda
apearlnews.com
Kabale District Leaders, have expressed need for the Uganda
Mult-sectoral Food Security and Nutrition Project-UMFSNP, to be rolled
out to all primary schools in the district, saying that the project’s
benefits are self-telling.
The UMFSNP, was rolled out in 100 schools in Kabale District in 2017,
before the district was split to create Rukiga district. Currently,
the project is being implemented in 61 schools in Kabale and 39 in
Rukiga districts. The project, was launched to support the
government’s efforts to explicitly link agriculture, nutrition, health
and education through school-based demonstration gardens, nutrition
education, and backyard gardens.
Its main objective of “increasing Production and consumption of micro
nutrient rich foods and utilization of community based nutrition
services in the smallholder households in the project areas.
Now, while meeting, the State Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry
and Fisheries- In charge- crop Production, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga yesterday
in the District boardroom, the leaders, led by the District Vice
Chairperson, Miria Akankwasa Tugume, who represented the district
Chairperson, Nelson Nshangabasheija, expressed need for the project to
be extended to other schools, saying that the other schools have
failed to establish backyard gardens, leaving their children at the
risk of malnutrition. There are 113 government aided primary schools
in Kabale District.
The Kabale District Principal Secretary, James Mugisha, who
represented the Chief Administrative officer, Edmond Ntimba, also said
that the project has helped to revive school demonstrations gardens,
which has been cardinal in integrating of nutrition, food security
education in schools.
The Kabale District Production and Marketing officer, Bedda Mwebesa,
said that under the project, 44267 new farmers have accessed micro
nutrient rich seeds and planting materials, which has helped to
improve vitamin- A supplementation and the reduction of worm
prevalence among the school going children.
Minister Kyakulaga, who is in Kigezi region on the project monitoring
tour, said that the project’s conception, was premised on research
carried out the country, which found out that several parts of the
country were grappling with undernutrition.
He also urged the public to embrace proper nutrition, saying that the
costs of mitigation undernutrition are higher than the costs of
ensuring proper nutrition.
END
