The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has embarked on training 70 women on nutrition and fuel-saving techniques geared towards strengthening food security in three Northeast states.
The organisation’s Horticulture/Gardening Expert, Dr Emon Parmaina, disclosed this on Thursday at the close of three-day training workshop in Yola.
Parmaina said that the participants included 30 women from Adamawa, and 40 from Borno and Yobe, who would be trained in Maiduguri from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
The initiative is part of the Emergency Agriculture-Based Livelihoods Sustenance for Improved Food Security and Nutrition in Northeast Nigeria.
The programme, funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), targets, Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, (BAY) states.
Parmaina said that the training was aimed at building the capacity of women representing various communities on best nutrition practices to promote the adoption of more efficient cooking techniques within their communities.
“The programme aims to tackle critical challenges faced by women in conflict-affected regions, including poor nutrition, rising fuel costs, and limited access to energy resources.
“The impact of insurgency over a decade ago has led to displacement of households, food insecurity, and poor health conditions affecting mostly women and children, with some under-five children being malnourished.
“This training will enhance healthier eating habits, which consists of identifying and preparing locally nutritious foods for children, adults, and the elderly to help ensure long-term sustainability and well-being,” he said.
He said that the knowledge and skills acquired by the participants would be shared among women in their respective communities, thereby amplifying the impact of the training in various communities.
The Food System and Nutrition Specialist FAO, Mr Ibrahim Ishaka, said that the organisation’s approach to nutrition was hinged on improving access to a healthy diet for better living.
According to Ishaka, agriculture is beyond just food production.
“Rather, it is a process which begins with the farmer, planting of crops, harvesting and adding value, through processing and marketing, to the consumers.
“The FAO approach to agriculture, therefore, encompasses the entire food value chain including waste management,” he said.
The nutrition expert further added that the training was aimed at communicating and infusing capacity into the communities to identify underutilised nutritious foods that are accessible, available, and affordable.
The FAO Energy Specialist, Dr Yakaka Maina, listed four strategic goals of the organisation as better production, better environment, better nutrition, and better life.
She said that in achieving a nutritious meal with food security, it was important to focus on food production, preservation, storage, and, the utilisation of energy to prepare healthy meals.
“Women are the main actors in terms of collecting firewood in the forest, which exposes them to risks and environmental hazards while cutting down trees.
“The training, therefore, is to teach participants energy-efficient cooking methods and practical ways to implement the techniques by utilising less fuel and less emission,” the energy expert said.
A participant at the training, Mrs Zainab Hassan, appreciated FAO for the educative sessions on how to prepare locally nutritious meals that enable healthy living and a better life.
According to Hassan, dying should not necessarily be early because of the food we eat.
“I learnt that portion sizes, and everything valuable in food are helpful to me and my family,’’ he said.
NAN
