Office of Overseas Programming & Training Support (OPATS) Nutrition-Sensitive Programming for Agriculture Nutrition for Healthy Families Training Package

More true?  Economic growth (as measured by GDP) reduces undernutrition.  Economic growth (as measured by GDP) increases obesity.  Increased agricultural production that is inclusive of the poor reduces undernutrition.  Increased agricultural production reduces undernutrition.

Know the Situation and Be Intentional  Know your context – Use community assessment and secondary data sources – Understand who is nutritionally vulnerable in the community  If expecting nutrition impact, be intentional – Include nutrition in stated objectives

Target the Most Vulnerable  Agriculture activities should target small holders, particularly poor and food-insecure households  1,000 Days — The time between a woman’s pregnancy and the child’s second birthday is a uniquely important time of growth and development — target women who are or may become pregnant as well as households with young children

Empower Women  Increase the income of women  Increase their access to extension services, information, and credit  Do no harm: preserve women’s ability to maintain their important caregiver roles  Increase their opportunities for education and skills for employment

Incorporate Nutrition Education  Contextually appropriate, evidence-based nutrition education can be key to improving the nutrition effects of interventions  Peace Corps nutrition education can be based on the Essential Nutrition Actions

Nutrition Behavior Change  Education is not the goal — changing behaviors is  Nutrition counseling is one example of an activity designed to assist in the process of changing behaviors

Increase Production of Nutrient-Dense Foods  Horticulture crops – Improve micronutrient availability  Small-scale animal production – Invaluable source of: Iron & zinc Quality/complete protein Dietary Fat  Take advantage of nutritious, underutilized foods  Increase production of legumes – High nutritional value, protein dense, and nitrogen fixation to benefit soil health and viability for other agricultural activities

Improve Intra-Household Use of Agricultural Products  Active feeding  Improved gender equity at meal times  Cooking and meal preparation techniques for improved nutrition – Cooking techniques can degrade nutrient quality and quantity – Vitamin C to improve dietary iron absorption – Sufficient dietary fats/oils for absorption of fat-soluble vitamins – Consideration for tannins, phytates, and other anti- nutrients