Harvesting Health: Integrating Nutrition and Sustainable Farming in Mount Elgon
The “Harvesting Health: Integrating Nutrition and Sustainable Farming in Mount Elgon” project aims to enhance the nutritional status and food security of communities in the Kapchorwa and Kween districts of Uganda. The project focuses on addressing malnutrition, particularly among women of reproductive age and children under five, through sustainable agricultural practices and nutrition education. Key strategies include training women in care groups on optimal nutrition, establishing nutrient-dense kitchen gardens, and providing farmers with training on sustainable crop production, soil and water management, and poultry farming. Additionally, the project aims to improve financial literacy and promote joint decision-making within households, establish school gardens and agricultural clubs, and use media outreach to educate the broader community on nutrition and sustainable farming practices.
By integrating these strategies, the project seeks to create a resilient agricultural landscape and contribute to systemic change in food and nutrition practices in the region. Through the collaborative efforts of AidEnvironment, FHA, KACSOA, the project utilizes local knowledge and resources to improve health, productivity, and economic well-being for the targeted communities. Ultimately, the project aims to increase the availability and accessibility of nutritious foods, enhance income levels, and promote sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term food security and improved nutrition for the Mount Elgon region’s residents.
The Mount Elgon region in Uganda faces significant challenges, including high levels of malnutrition, particularly among women of reproductive age and children under five, soil degradation, frequent erosion, and flooding due to intensive land use, climate change, and deforestation. Economic instability is exacerbated by fluctuations in the coffee market, leading to increased poverty and food insecurity. Traditional farming practices and limited access to nutritious foods contribute to a diet lacking in diversity and essential micronutrients, resulting in widespread malnutrition and health issues.
The Harvesting Health project will tackle Mount Elgon’s challenges by training farmers in sustainable agricultural practices, establishing nutrient-dense kitchen gardens, and providing financial literacy programs to improve food security and economic stability. It will empower women through care groups focused on maternal and child nutrition and educate schoolchildren via agricultural clubs and nutritious meal preparation. Media outreach will spread knowledge on nutrition and sustainable farming. The expected outcomes include improved nutrition for 12,000 people combined with a 40% increase in household income, and enhanced resilience of 1,000 hectares of farmland, creating a healthier, more self-sufficient community.
