Africa-Press – Tanzania. AHEAD of the World Food Day (WFD) to be marked on October 16, this year Kagera Region has attained food sufficiency, it has been disclosed.
Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Professor Faustin Kamuzora revealed that production of food commodities increased from 3,873,704 metric tonnes during 2017/2018 compared to 3,963,676 tonnes during 2018/2019.
He explained that during 2019/2020 season a total of 3,355,638 metric tonnes of food commodities were produced including maize, bananas, wheat, millet, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes and groundnuts.
Food requirements stood at 788,675 tonnes. During 2018/2019 season the region’s target was to produce 2,211,890 tonnes while actual performance was 2,445,547 metric tonnes.
The target for root crops was to produce 966,200 tonnes while 1,091,882 tonnes were produced. The target for legumes was to produce 155,928 tonnes while actual production was 168,803 metric tonnes. Kagera region produces almost 2.4 million tonnes of banana (about 60 per cent of the national total production) and over 60,000 tonnes of coffee annually (about 35 per cent of the national total production).
Minister for Agriculture Prof Adolf Mkenda was quoted, saying that Tanzania will mark the 41st World Food Day (WFD) on October 16th, 2021 in Kilimanjaro Region, with pride in food sufficiency and effectively improving the nutrition status.
Prof Mkenda said food production has remained stable while an assessment conducted in 2019/2020 season, shows that food production will reach 17.742 million tonnes, while 14.347 million tonnes were maize.
The region enjoys a favourable weather pattern with average temperature at 26.02 degree Centigrade and annual rainfall ranging between 880-1,100 mm during months of September to January and March to May.
The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation process of the country’s economy. Exploration of fertile areas and conducting research on what types of crops can be produced in such areas for optimum production is the only way of achieving self-sufficiency in food and earning substantial foreign exchange.
Kagera Region is among ten regions in the country where the rate of stunting among children below five years stood at 39.8 per cent, compared to the national average of 34 per cent.
Kagera Regional Nutrition Officer, Yusuf Hamis disclosed that a recent initial baseline survey indicated that about 224,364 children aged below five years in Kagera Region were stunted.
Minimum acceptable diet stood at 18.1 per cent compared to the national average of 30.3 per cent. The rate of continued breastfeeding at two years stood at 44.4 per cent while the national average was 43.3 per cent. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding stood at 85 per cent and meal frequency per day stood at 55 per cent.
Equally, he urged all stakeholders to join hands in fighting malnutrition and hidden hunger noting that more efforts should be made to educate families especially women on the importance of breastfeeding and eating food varieties rich in micronutrients, proteins and vitamin A,
Kagera Region had enough food varieties including bananas, beans and fisheries resources notably from Lake Vitoria and 14 satellite lakes….food availability is not a problem. Families should be educated on the best food varieties to eat on daily basis.
It was high time that every person cooperate to realise the goal of malnutrition- free in Kagera Region. Without necessary actions children will remain at greater risk in the region, he said.
He noted that malnutrition was still a big problem in Africa continent where almost 30 per cent of children aged below five years were stunted. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that malnutrition accounts for one-third of mortality among children below the age of five globally.
The World Food Day (WFD) is observed on October 16, every year to tackle global hunger and strive to eradicate hunger across the world. The occasion will be marked at the national level in Kilimanjaro Region with the theme …”Our actions are our future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.”
Good nutrition helps to reduce the risk of some diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, some cancers and osteoporosis. It also helps to reduce high blood pressure, lower high cholesterol, improve the ability to fight off illness, improve the ability to recover from illness or injury as well as increase energy levels.
Better health of a population is central to the development of a nation since a healthy population lives longer and is more productive and contributing more to a nation’s economy. Effective public health system from the grassroots level are important in providing care for the sick and putting in place measures that promote preventive services of diseases.
