Fruit trees for micronutrient-rich diets in Zambia

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In April, I went with a dedicated team to Mwape Chiefdom in Nyimba, Eastern Province, Zambia. They included research fellow Petros and Peter, Liche and Edward, staff from the NGO COMACO.Our goal was to monitor the progress of fruit tree planting among nursery operators, schools, health centers and community groups.

The visit was not just about oversight; it was an opportunity to connect with communities trained in seed collection and the inclusion of wild foods in household diets.

Our first stop was at the palace of Chieftainess Mwape, where we informed her about upcoming outreach events.

She expressed strong support for the project, appreciating the nostalgic connection to traditional recipes that our nutrition workshops had revived. "The training for Community Health Volunteers and food fairs brought a sense of cultural identity to the chiefdom," she said.

The team then visited Mwape Kalonga Secondary School, where Headteacher Sekelani lauded the tree planting program as a vital strategy to address nutrition among pupils. Many students travel long distances, up to 25 kilometers, and often rent houses near the school, returning home only on weekends to restock food. "Growing fruits will support hungry children coming to school from far-flung areas," he said.

Despite challenges such as water scarcity and theft, Zulu praised the program for fostering an appreciation of indigenous trees. He requested support for a borehole to address the water issue, and COMACO’s Edward noted the possibility of connecting the school to a nearby water tank with support local government administration.

We also met with community members, including 20 nursery operators who showcased their transplanted plants. Petros advised them on best practices to enhance survival rates and emphasized the importance of fencing to protect young plants from animals.

The day's activities culminated in a radio show on Nyimba FM 89.3, where we highlighted the project. A caller appreciated the information shared, underscoring the need for more discussions about traditional foods.

Next,we will embark on nutrition capacity trainings with CHVs and reach out to schools and communites across the eight chiefdoms in Central, Eastern and Muchinga Provinces. We will reinforce the nutrition messages of phase one in 2023. We will also host topical phone-in radio programs to emphasize the benefits of including Zambian wild foods in diets. After this, CHVs will retrain selected household caregivers in their chiefdoms in August, leading up to food and nutrition fairs in September 2024 to further educate the public on nutrition and the importance of wild foods.

It's a long process. But we are committed. We appreciate every donation that you make! Thank you!