{"id":68550,"date":"2024-03-26T11:47:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T11:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/one-acre-fund-tubura-provides-nutrient-rich-maize-flour-to-ecd-centres"},"modified":"2024-03-26T12:33:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T12:33:03","slug":"one-acre-fund-tubura-provides-nutrient-rich-maize-flour-to-ecd-centres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/one-acre-fund-tubura-provides-nutrient-rich-maize-flour-to-ecd-centres","title":{"rendered":"One Acre Fund-Tubura provides nutrient- rich maize flour to ECD centres"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>One Acre Fund-Tubura is distributing IYACU, a nutritious maize flour, to Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres to alleviate stunting and malnutrition among children in six districts.<\/p>\n

One Acre Fund Rwanda is an agricultural development organisation incorporated in Rwanda as a foreign branch of the One Acre Fund U.S. non-profit.<\/p>\n

In Rwanda, the organisation operates under two community benefit companies, namely: One Acre Fund, focused on partnership activities to improve food systems, and Tubura, which is a subsidiary of One Acre Fund which is focused on direct services to support their prosperity.<\/p>\n

IYACU (as it is branded) is a fortified whole maize flour product that One Acre Fund produces from maize grains aggregated from Rwandan farmers to address the issue of malnutrition. IYACU may be consumed either as porridge or maize ugali.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt One Acre Fund, we strongly believe that contributing to the existing measures in the country which targets to alleviate stunting and malnutrition is of paramount importance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is why One Acre Fund in partnership with IITA initiated a project which targets to deliver nutritious fortified whole maize flour to rural communities including some ECD centres in the districts of Ngororero, Burera, Nyamasheke, Rulindo, Kayonza, and Gakenke,\u201d said Evariste Bagambiki, Communications Specialist at One Acre Fund.<\/p>\n

The distribution aims to alleviate stunting and malnutrition among children in six districts<\/p>\n

The Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2019-2020 indicated that stunting stood at 33 per cent for children under the age of five, whereas the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) target was 15 per cent for Rwanda.<\/p>\n

\u201cMalnutrition is therefore still prevalent, particularly in rural communities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Fortified whole maize flour is needed for children given that in the first 1,000 days of life, babies\u2019 brains form new connections at a pace never repeated again.<\/p>\n

According to UNICEF over 80 per cent of a child\u2019s brain is formed by the age of three, and up to 75 per cent of each meal goes directly to building a baby\u2019s brain.<\/p>\n

The distribution is carried out in some ECD centres in the districts of Ngororero, Burera, Nyamasheke, Rulindo, Kayonza, and Gakenke<\/p>\n

\u201cThese first 1,000 days have a lasting effect on a child\u2019s future, and there is only one chance to get it right,\u201d Bagambiki said.<\/p>\n

Rwanda and partners such as Tubura put much effort into early childhood development (ECD) to support a child in these critical early years, providing holistic access to early learning, good nutrition, hygiene, and protection.<\/p>\n

Evariste Bagambiki, Communications Specialist at One Acre Fund speaks to journalists about the exercise<\/p>\n

He said that since One Acre Fund-Tubura launched the IYACU whole maize flour in 2023, they have distributed more than 48, 290 kilogrammes to 2,173 ECD centres.<\/p>\n

In Nyamasheke District, 8,190 kilogrammes were distributed in 698 ECDs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne Acre Fund-Tubura is working with shop owners, one shop in every sector, to reach the community with the fortified whole maize flour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2023, it has distributed 194,022 kilogrammes to 83,916 households.<\/p>\n

Parents and children receive IYACU, a nutritious maize flour provided by One Acre Fund-Tubura to Early Childhood Development centres.<\/p>\n

Rachel Murekatete, a mother and ECD caregiver from Rubona village, Nyarusange Cell, Kirimbi Sector in Nyamasheke District, said that ECDs look after the children while their parents are busy with other activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe children are secure at the ECDs. They are not vulnerable to stunting and malnutrition as they receive porridge, milk, and nutritious food. The maize flour plays a big role in fighting stunting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Another mother, Clemtine Ayingeneye, said that children are getting healthier as they acquire the ability to speak, learn, and reason in their early years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could not afford the nutritious maize flour for our children. This is playing a big role in eradicating malnutrition,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

IYACU may be consumed either as porridge or maize ugali<\/p>\n

Cyprien Ndagijimana, a caregiver with two children at an ECD centre, said that nutritious food has retained children in ECD centres.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren are growing in a happy environment free of hunger and stunting thanks to the nutritious maize flour support,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Marie Claire Nyiraneza, a caregiver at an ECD centre, added that children benefiting from ECD services have both physical and cognitive development.<\/p>\n

One Acre Fund currently serves more than one million smallholder farmers in Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.<\/p>\n\r\n