The Problem

Agricultural investment is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, and food production is rising. Yet as agricultural programmes have traditionally focused on increasing the amount of food rather than improving nutrition levels, the number of children suffering from malnutrition is rising rather than falling. Africa has the highest malnutrition rates in the world, and it is vital that agricultural programmes start to take nutrition into account if they are to provide long-term food security.

It is during the first 1,000 days of a child's life - the period between their conception and their second birthday - that the building blocks are laid for future health and cognitive development. Inadequate nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life is almost impossible to compensate for and children can suffer from stunting as a result, which affects not just growth but mental health and educational achievement. Stunting is a major problem in Africa, with 40% of children under five affected. 

There are many barriers to good nutrition, including a lack of knowledge about which crops are nutrient rich, insufficient harvesting, poor storage and farmers struggling to access markets, all of which can prevent nutritious foods reaching the people who need them. Women’s lack of empowerment plays a huge part – when women are able to decide what to grow and how household budgets are spent, nutrition improves.