The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Tanzania, through the European Union (EU) funded AGRI-CONNECT flagship programme, have launched a national nutrition campaign to develop healthy eating habits in Tanzania based on locally available foods.
The event was graced by Dr. Honest Kessy, Director of National Food Security at the Ministry of Agriculture, on behalf of Hon Hussein Bashe, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lamine Diallo, Head of Natural Resources at the European Delegation in Tanzania, and Dr. Nyabenyi Tipo, FAO Representative in Tanzania, and was attended by a diverse group of experts and stakeholders in a blended (physical and online) interactive event at Kisutu Central Market in Dar es Salaam.
Food systems
The first 100 people to arrive at the venue received a free food basket filled with food ingredients from the healthy plate model. In May 2022, a similar national nutrition campaign will be launched in Zanzibar.
“Agriculture and nutrition are two sides of the same coin, and we must improve our respective food systems to meet the nutrition needs of the world’s rapidly growing population. Tanzania can address the high rate of malnutrition in several regions, if takes full advantage of its significant agricultural potentials. We sincerely hope that this campaign, combined with other AGRI-CONNECT activities, will mobilise all partners and contribute to the improvement of people’s health and wealth,” said Mr. Lamine Diallo, Head of Natural Resources at the European Delegation in Tanzania.
Dr. Nyabenyi Tipo, FAO Representative in Tanzania emphasized that, “As the global pandemic continues, the importance of healthy diets in mitigating its effects has never been more important.” Adding that, “a shift in societal practices regarding food production, consumption, and market access would increase access to food, boost body immunity, and provide smallholder farmers with an income.”
