1. The roles of indigenous crops and plants in improving nutrition and fighting HIV/AIDS Josep A. Garí Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Distance-learning training course to build national capacities for integrating local knowledge into multi-sectoral AIDS projects Vide-conference connection with various African countries 9 September 2005

3. Plants and human health

4. STRATEGIC COMPONENTS 1.Traditional, neglected and under-utilised crops 2.Agricultural diversification 3.Home gardens 4.Wild food plants 5.Medicinal plants 6.Community seed systems 7.Livestock and agropastoral systems agro-biodiversityindigenous knowledge

5. objectives strategic components Source: Gari (2003) nutrition / health farm labour economic security agricultural management diet diversification / improving micronutrient intake optimal use of local crop and food resources recognition and support for the roles of rural women in agriculture, food production and nutrition appropriate meals and diets for sick people use of medicinal plants (primary healthcare) nutrition as the first medicine for HIV/AIDS labour-saving practices / farm labour flexibility options for farming under low-intensive labour optimisation and diffusion of labour inputs low-input agriculture: lower production costs, higher farm net incomes broader income and market alternatives organic agriculture: inexpensive means for soil fertilisation and pest management local seed access / farmer seed autonomy conservation of natural resources environmental risk management (drought, pests) use of marginal lands / coping with land shortages transmission of agricultural resources and knowledge to rural youth and children participatory research / farmer experimentation maintaining the basis for rural reconstruction TRADITIONAL, NEGLECTED and UNDER-UTILISED CROPS AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION HOME GARDENS WILD FOOD PLANTS COMMUNITY SEED SYSTEMS LIVESTOCK and AGROPASTORAL SYSTEMS MEDICINAL PLANTS

8. Sweet potato varieties in 4 villages of Mawero area (Eastern Uganda), 2001 Farmer with bungoma variety of sweet potato (eastern Uganda)

9. Selected examples of agricultural diversification systems and practices

11. Selected wild food plants among the Gogo people in Dodoma drylands (Tanzania) Source: Field research, 2001 (in collaboration with the Tanzanian Association of Women Leaders in Agriculture and the Environment - TAWLAE)

12. Extent of wild food plants and home garden crops in Africa

14. Papers Garí, J.A. (2004). "Plant diversity, sustainable rural livelihoods and the HIV/AIDS crisis". UNDP / FAO. http://www.hiv-development.org/publications Garí, J.A. (2003). "Agrobiodiversity strategies to combat foor insecurity and HIV/AIDS impact in rural Africa: Advancing grassroots responses for nutrition, health and sustainable livelihoods". FAO (SDWP); preliminary edition. http://www.geocities.com/rural_Africa Further information http://www.fao.org/hivaids http://www.fao.org/es/esn/nutrition/household_hivaids_en.stm http://www.fao.org/sd/links/resources/resources.html http://www.underutilized-species.org