Stakeholder analysis and environment scanning report

Abstract

ComFA+Staple foods from four food groups based on the WHO’s DD-IYC were reported to be produced in Siavonga. These groups are cereals, roots, tubers and plantains; pulses, nuts and seeds; flesh foods; and vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables is the group to which dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV) belong. Among the specific ComFA+Staple foods, except cassava, cassava leaves, fish and rape that are produced throughout the year, the rest are only grown in the rainy season. The five leading ComFA+ Staple foods contributors to total production in the area include; flesh foods, namely; fish breams and fish-kapenta, as well as a cereal maize. Others are; a tuber known as sweet potato and vitamin A-rich pumpkins, as well as flesh foods known as other fish species. Among the flesh foods, fresh, sundried and smoked fish produced at the fishing camp are sold at wholesale and retail outlets. On the other hand, fresh rape (kale) produced among the DGLVs is only sold at retail outlets. In Siavonga, maize (a cereal) and a flesh food fish breams contribute 100% to the food basket. Following are other flesh foods, namely, other species of fish and fish kapenta and a tuberous root food group, sweet potatoes. Other ComFA+Staple foods contributing significantly to the food basket are vitamin A rich foods such as pumpkin leaves, rape, and bean leaves in that order. Women are the main producers of cereals, roots and tubers and pulses, nuts, seeds and vitamin A rich vegetables, which are all (100%) consumed was produced. On the other hand, men are the main producers of flesh foods, particularly fish kapenta, other fish Page 5 of 29 species and fish breams which are mainly sold to the local and external markets once produced. The priority staple foods in Siavonga belong to three groups, namely; 1) cereals, roots and tubers; 2) flesh foods; and 3) vitamin A rich foods, also known as dark green fruits and vegetables (DGLV). Specific foods for each group include whole maize and whole sweet potatoes, fish and other small fish species except for Kapenta, fresh rape and fresh and dry sweet potato leaves, respectively. Maize, sweet potato and cassava, and DGLV ranked highly in foods bought from retail outlets and were at the same level. These are cereals, roots, tubers, and vitamin A-rich foods. The least ranked foods are flesh food particularly beef and chicken and Irish potato, a stem tuber. Households mainly purchase energy-dense foods as well as DGLV. Cereals, roots and tubers, particularly maize meal porridge or nshima (pap) as mashed or fried sweet potatoes when in season, were reported to be offered seven times a week to children. Likewise, flesh foods, particularly fish of all sorts in the form of gravy and a bit of flesh but not fish powder, were offered to infants seven times a week. DGLVs boiled, fried or mixed with groundnut whole or gravy were offered to infants three times per week. Prospects for ComFA+Fortified foods exist because several cooperatives in fish farming and crop growing are reported in Siavonga. In addition, most of the fish in the area is dried and can be turned into powder. A number of entrepreneurs drying and trading in fish were reported to exist. These can pick up the idea of fish powders. Furthermore, solar and electric harmer mills could be exploited to mill all the ComFA+Fortified food powders. Conclusion: The fact that one of the food groups consumed in Siavonga is flesh foods particularly fish gives the potential for dietary adequacy for children as children consuming fish are less likely to be stunted. Promoting the use of fish powders in ComFA+Fortified foods will lessen incidences of offering broths to children since many of the important nutrients are located in the meat, bones and organs. The fish powder will also fortify the overall energy-dense foods for infants. Engaging the private businesses sector would have an impact.