The Zambia Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance has called on government to invest in nutrition sensitive agriculture programmes.
The organization says this will be crucial in fighting malnutrition in the country and making a difference in the lives of the majority farming communities in Zambia.
CSO-SUN Country Coordinator Mathews Mhuru has also commended government for distributing an assortment of food stuffs to over 38,000 people in Lunga district whose houses and crop fields were submerged following a continuous heavy down pour.
Mr. Mhuru says his organization has noted with happiness that apart from Maize and mealie meal, the government has also distributed 100 by 50kgs and 125 by 20kgs of beans among others.
He says this is what they have been calling for and that his organization is happy that government is now responding to its calls.
“Going forward, we want to encourage government to ensure that all hunger stricken districts that have been identified for relief food distribution do not only receive maize but an assortment of food stuffs as is the case with Lunga District,” said Mr. Mhuru.
“We feel that this move will allow the vulnerable families to not only have food but also meet their nutrition needs. We are cognisant of the fact that one of the major causes of malnutrition in Zambia is mono-diet which is concentrated on maize.”
He said there is no doubt that nutrition sensitive agriculture will help children grow up healthier – physically and mentally.
“We are afraid that Zambia will continue recording high malnutrition cases if nothing is done to promote nutrition sensitive agriculture,” he added.

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