Improved nutrition in Zambia – the role of agricultural research

1. Nutrition Enhancement through
Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato:
Adoption and Dissemination in
Eastern & Central Province
Research on Agriculture for Improved Nutrition in Zambia
Protea Hotel, Arcades Shopping Centre
Lusaka
20 March 2012
Emily Mueller (CIP-SSA) Martin Chiona (ZARI)

2. Concerns of Malnutrition in Zambia
Underinvestment in agriculture, prominence of HIV/AIDS, frequent
inclement weather patterns contributing to prominent hunger
issues and persistent chronic undernutrition
Source: Deutsche Weilthungerhilfe et al. 2010
% Children < 5 yrs Prevalence of Proportion of
Chronically Underweight among Children Dying
Undernourished Children (< 5 yrs) before 5 yrs
Country 1990 2010 1990 2010 1990 2010
Malawi 45 29 24.4 15.5 22.5 10
Mozambique 59 37 28.4 21.2 12 9.8
Tanzania 28 35 25.1 16.7 15.7 10.4
Uganda 19 15 19.7 16.4 18.6 13.5
Zambia 40 45 19.5 14.9 17.2 14.8
High levels (54%) of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children < 5 years
Other vulnerable groups include pregnant & lactating women, food
insecure and HIV/AIDS affected households
VAD can limit growth, weaken immunity, cause xeropthalmia
leading to blindness, and increased mortality risk

3. Major Sources of Vitamin A
 Expensive animal sources (eggs, liver), highly
bioavailable as is preformed retinol (vitamin A itself)
 Provitamin A carotenoids are found in plant foods such
as dark green leafy vegetables, and orange
vegetables and fruits, and orange-fleshed sweetpotato
(OFSP). B-carotene is major provitamin A carotenoid and
the dominant one in OFSP.
 Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE):
 12 beta-carotene: 1 retinol
 Rates of conversion also depend on:
 Whether fat is consumed (small
amounts increase absorption)
 Health status (deficient individuals
convert at higher rates than replete)

4. Zambia: Sweetpotato widely grown on a
small scale & potential area expansion
Sweetpotato Production
(tons) in Zambia
2010
252,867
2005
66,929
0 50,000100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000
Source: Sixth National Development Plan
2011-1015, page 126.
 278% increase
 Dominant variety
Chingovwa:
yellow-fleshed

5. Can OFSP significantly contribute
To improving vitamin A status?
Efficacy Study Among School Children in South Africa
Resisto
Bosbok Efficacy
studies
1. Completed in South Africa in 2004
Potential of OFSP 2. Modified relative dose response method
in combating VAD 3. 120 gm. fed to school children for 5 days a
week for 3 months significantly improved
amounts of Vitamin A stored in the liver
van Jaarsveld et al., AJCN 81, 1080-87, 2005.

6. What is required to get impact at the
community level?
Evidence from Central Mozambique (2003-2004) demonstrated that
an integrated approach resulted in 15% decline in VAD prevalence
1) Agriculture 2) Nutrition 3) Marketing
Access to OFSP varieties Dietary change through demand Accelerates sustained
that produce better than creation & caregiver adoption, increases income
local landraces empowerment & diversifies use
Low, JW et al., Journal of Nutrition 137: 1320-1327, 2007

7. Follow-up study (Reaching End
Users) proved we could go to scale
(24,000 hhs) cost-effectively Wolfgang H PFEIFFER
High adoption rates (>60%) & positive outcomes on Vitamin A intakes
among children and their mothers in 2 very different settings
CHILDREN 3.5–6 YEARS (MOZAMBIQUE) AND MOZAMBIQUE
5-7 YEARS (UGANDA) AT ENDLINE Impact: ΔM-ΔC
1104
Baseline Endline Model 1: 249 µg RAE/day
863 Model 2: 209 µg RAE/day
615 UGANDA
571
530.4 556.2 575
458.2 Impact: ΔM-ΔC
350 Model 1: 314 µg RAE/day
203.5 198.7 187.8 Model 2: 628 µg RAE/day
EAR for children 4-8 years
Model 1 Model 2 Control Model 1 Model 2 Control = 275 µg RAE per day
MOZAMBIQUE UGANDA
Hotz, C. et al., British Journal of Nutrition , 2011

8. Integrating Orange in Zambia
PROJECT GOALS:
• To increase intake of Vitamin A, esp.
by young children and their mothers
• To reduce food insecurity in
Eastern Province
• Raise awareness in Central Province
OBJECTIVES DURING FIRST 4 YEARS:
• Adoption of OFSP sweetpotato in 15,000 targeted households
• Establishment of access to quality planting material
• Establishment of 2 profitable value chains
• Establishment of active, knowledgeable community integrating
OFSP into maize-dominant
cropping systems

9. On-Farm Varietal Assessment of OFSP
Collaboration with ZARI & GART
First two years with emphasis in
formative research:
On-farm research
Crop management
Vine multiplication
• Determine where varieties
perform best
• Identify entry points of OFSP *
into existing food systems

10. Improving Farmer Access to Quality
Planting Materials
Establish clean, disease-
free foundation stock
In-vitro culture for
OFSP varieties
ZARI,
CIP-Mozambique
Maintenance of clean
planting material on-farm
Training, promotion of Evaluation of root
local farmers as storage methods for
multipliers extended growing
season

11. Vine Dissemination & Market
Development
Establishment of vine multiplication plots
Centralized at Research Stations
(Msekera, Mansa, Mt. Makulu)
Decentralized at local farms
Dissemination through collaboration
Development of OFSP market
Preservation recipes (Katapola
Farm Institute)
Promotion of OFSP along
roadside markets
Processed foods (chips, bakery)

12. Expected Outcomes and Challenges
OUTCOMES
 OFSP root consumption will significantly contribute to
improved vitamin A intake & status & increased production
to improved food security
 Improved agronomic practices in sweetpotato management
will lead to increased adoption in maize-dominant systems
CHALLENGES
 Acceptance of orange-fleshed
sweetpotato varieties
 Developing effective vine delivery &
conservation practices in drought prone
areas
 Building partnerships to maximize
nutritional impact of OFSP through joint
promotion campaigns & links to
community nutrition interventions

13. Acknowledgements
Wolfgang H PFEIFFER
Visit the Sweetpotato Knowledge Portal
www. sweetpotatoknowledge.org