Nankhumwa told a joint commemoration of the world food and African day and nutrition security at Kankhomba primary school grounds in Thyolo that malnutrition affects one in three people in Malawi and can take the form of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, stunting, wasting, over-weight and obesity.

“People, who experience food insecurity, including those who do not have access to enough nutritious food, are at greater risk of various forms of malnutrition,” Nankhumwa said.

Under the theme “Our actions, our future; Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger world” the days are globally commemorated on October 16 and 30 every year in order to attract new commitments to achieve the ultimate goal of ending hunger.

He said: “These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from all forms of malnutrition; and for the need to ensure food security and healthy diets for all.”

The Minister said this resonates well with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which emphasizes not only the need to end hunger but, also, the need to achieve food security by improving access to nutritious food while using sustainable agricultural production methods.

“Health problems linked to obesity are costing national health budget every year. In recent years, there has been a dramatic change in diets and eating patterns in some people as a result of globalization, urbanization and income growth,” he said.

He said they are moving away from seasonal, mainly plant-based and fibre-rich dishes to high energy diets, which are high in refined starches, sugar, fats, salts, processed foods and often marked by excessive consumption of meat.

“On the other hand people with limited financial resources, including smallholder agriculture producers and families in crisis situations caused by conflict, natural disasters and the impact of climate change, do not even have the option to purchase fresh and nutritious foods,” he said.

On achieving zero hunger he said: "It is not only about feeding the hungry, it’s also about nourishing people with healthy diets that include a sufficient variety of safe and nutritious foods – while maintaining the health of the planet on which we all depend. This calls for action across sectors and different stakeholders.”

The Minister said ways of producing, supplying and consuming food has to change. “In addition to producing high-yielding staple crops, a diverse variety of foods is crucial for providing healthy diets and safeguarding the environment.”

Expounding on this, Nankhumwa said today only nine plant species account for 66 percent of total crop production despite the fact that, throughout history, more than 6000 species have been cultivated for food.

“We currently rely on only three crops (wheat, maize and rice) to provide nearly 50 percent of the global dietary energy supply. This area, however, has shown a good example that farmers in Malawi can diversify in their production and supply variety of foods in their nearest markets and other cities, which can assist in changing towards healthy diets,” he said.

GOVT PRIORITY

The Minister said agriculture remains a key government priority because of the impact it has on food, nutrition and income security in this country, adding that Government under the dynamic and wise leadership Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has put up various projects and programmes aimed at addressing the problems of food and nutrition insecurity at all levels.

He said in this regard, Mutharika’s Government was promoting irrigation farming through different programmes including the Greenbelt Initiative to increase food production amongst farmers including those that experienced natural disasters during the rainy season.

DIVERSIFICATION

“Government is also promoting food diversification through development of policies, strategies and legal frameworks that favour intensified legume, horticulture, livestock and fish production in partnership with different stakeholders.

He said the Government included legumes in the Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) input package so that there is intensified legume production for income and nutrition security.

He said Diversified food production in agriculture will impact other social protection programs like the social cash transfer, and school nutrition for the vulnerable, because people will have a variety of nutritious foods in their locality where they can purchase.

“Smallholder farmers on their part need to adopt new and sustainable agriculture methods to assist in increasing productivity, diversity and income whilst also ensuring resilience through approaches that are responsive to the environment by doing the following among others;

• Plant a wider variety of nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts to complement staple foods so that they achieve a healthy diet.

• Plant a diverse selection of crops also help to maintain healthy soils, regulate pests and diseases, improve pollination and reduce the impact of climate change.

• Farmers should use seeds that are more tolerant to droughts and diversity and income whilst also ensuring resilience through approaches that are responsive to the environment by doing the following among others;

• Plant a diverse selection of crops also help to maintain healthy soils, regulate pests and diseases, improve pollination and reduce the impact of climate change.

• Farmers should use seeds that are more tolerant to droughts.

• Where possible, turn to local, small scale fishery production as a source of income and affordable vitamin rich foods for local communities. Fish provides protein, vitamins and minerals (which are generally not found in staple crops).

• Manage natural resources sustainably and efficiently and adapt methods to climate change. Produce more food with the same amount of land and water.
• Reduce food loss and waste from harvest to distribution.

• Take advantage of processing and storage methods to conserve products, where possible.

He said nutrition knowledge was very important to enable consumers to make healthier food choices because they acquire knowledge about available local, seasonal foods, their nutritional values and how to cook and preserve them.

The Government with support from 18 different partners conduct mass-media, public awareness campaigns, nutrition education programmes and community interventions that are aimed at providing nutrition information.

“Let me encourage farmers and everyone to have interest in these interventions as they are important for our good nutrition and health.

“Furthermore, different food products have nutrition labels, for those of us who can read, let us do so to know what we are consuming,” he added.

PRIVATE SECTOR

He asked the private sector, especially food businesses to continue developing and providing affordable and nutritious food choices to consumers and aim to provide greater dietary diversity and quality.

He asked the sector to provide consumers with adequate and easy-to-understand product and nutrition information and avoid nutrient claims which may mislead consumers about its overall nutritional quality; and make it a priority to improve nutrition and food safety along the food chain.

He said: “This year’s World Food Day calls for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone.

“The government, development partners, private food businesses, smallholder farmers, the youth, civil society organizations and everyone can take part in advocating for healthy diets for a zero hunger world.