Nutrition Enhancement through

Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato:

Research on Agriculture for Improved Nutrition in Zambia

Protea Hotel, Arcades Shopping Centre

Lusaka

20 March 2012

Adoption and Dissemination in Eastern & Central Province

Emily Mueller (CIP-SSA) Martin Chiona (ZARI)

Concerns of Malnutrition in Zambia

Underinvestment in agriculture, prominence of HIV/AIDS, frequent

inclement weather patterns contributing to prominent hunger

issues and persistent chronic undernutrition

% Children < 5 yrsChronically

Undernourished

Prevalence of Underweight among

Children (< 5 yrs)

Proportion of Children Dying

before 5 yrs

Country 1990 2010 1990 2010 1990 2010

Malawi 45 29 24.4 15.5 22.5 10

Mozambique 59 37 28.4 21.2 12 9.8

Tanzania 28 35 25.1 16.7 15.7 10.4

Uganda 19 15 19.7 16.4 18.6 13.5

Zambia 40 45 19.5 14.9 17.2 14.8

Source: Deutsche Weilthungerhilfe et al. 2010

High levels (54%) of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children < 5 years

Other vulnerable groups include pregnant & lactating women, food

insecure and HIV/AIDS affected households

VAD can limit growth, weaken immunity, cause xeropthalmia

leading to blindness, and increased mortality risk

Major Sources of Vitamin A

Expensive animal sources (eggs, liver), highly

bioavailable as is preformed retinol (vitamin A itself)

Provitamin A carotenoids are found in plant foods such

as dark green leafy vegetables, and orange

vegetables and fruits, and orange-fleshed sweetpotato

(OFSP). B-carotene is major provitamin A carotenoid and

the dominant one in OFSP.

Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE):

12 beta-carotene: 1 retinol

Rates of conversion also depend on:

Whether fat is consumed (small

amounts increase absorption)

Health status (deficient individuals

convert at higher rates than replete)

66,929

252,867

0 50,000100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000

2005

2010

Sweetpotato Production (tons) in Zambia

278% increase

Dominant variety

Chingovwa:

yellow-fleshed

Source: Sixth National Development Plan

2011-1015, page 126.

Zambia: Sweetpotato widely grown on a

small scale & potential area expansion

Bosbok

Resisto

Efficacy

studies

1. Completed in South Africa in 2004

2. Modified relative dose response method

3. 120 gm. fed to school children for 5 days a

week for 3 months significantly improved

amounts of Vitamin A stored in the liver

Potential of OFSP

in combating VAD

Efficacy Study Among School Children in South Africa

van Jaarsveld et al., AJCN 81, 1080-87, 2005.

Can OFSP significantly contribute

To improving vitamin A status?

What is required to get impact at the

community level?

Evidence from Central Mozambique (2003-2004) demonstrated that

an integrated approach resulted in 15% decline in VAD prevalence

1) Agriculture

Access to OFSP varieties

that produce better than

local landraces

2) Nutrition

Dietary change through demand

creation & caregiver

empowerment

3) Marketing

Accelerates sustained

adoption, increases income

& diversifies use

Low, JW et al., Journal of Nutrition 137: 1320-1327, 2007

Follow-up study (Reaching End

Users) proved we could go to scale

(24,000 hhs) cost-effectively

203.5 198.7 187.8

530.4458.2

556.2615

571

350

863

1104

575

Model 1 Model 2 Control Model 1 Model 2 Control

CHILDREN 3.5–6 YEARS (MOZAMBIQUE) AND 5-7 YEARS (UGANDA) AT ENDLINE

Baseline Endline

UGANDAImpact: ΔM-ΔCModel 1: 314 µg RAE/dayModel 2: 628 µg RAE/day

MOZAMBIQUEImpact: ΔM-ΔCModel 1: 249 µg RAE/dayModel 2: 209 µg RAE/day

EAR for children 4-8 years

= 275 µg RAE per dayMOZAMBIQUE UGANDA

High adoption rates (>60%) & positive outcomes on Vitamin A intakes

among children and their mothers in 2 very different settings

Hotz, C. et al., British Journal of Nutrition , 2011

Wolfgang H PFEIFFERWolfgang H PFEIFFER

Integrating Orange in Zambia

PROJECT GOALS:

• To increase intake of Vitamin A, esp.

by young children and their mothers

• To reduce food insecurity in

Eastern Province

• Raise awareness in Central Province

OBJECTIVES DURING FIRST 4 YEARS:

• Adoption of OFSP sweetpotato in 15,000 targeted households

• Establishment of access to quality planting material

• Establishment of 2 profitable value chains

• Establishment of active, knowledgeable community integrating

OFSP into maize-dominant

cropping systems

On-Farm Varietal Assessment of OFSP

First two years with emphasis in

formative research:

On-farm research

Crop management

Vine multiplication

*

• Determine where varieties

perform best

• Identify entry points of OFSP

into existing food systems

Collaboration with ZARI & GART

Establish clean, disease-

free foundation stock

In-vitro culture for

OFSP varieties

ZARI,

CIP-Mozambique

Maintenance of clean

planting material on-farm

Training, promotion of

local farmers as

multipliers

Evaluation of root

storage methods for

extended growing

season

Improving Farmer Access to Quality

Planting Materials

Vine Dissemination & Market

Development

Establishment of vine multiplication plots

Centralized at Research Stations

(Msekera, Mansa, Mt. Makulu)

Decentralized at local farms

Dissemination through collaboration

Development of OFSP market

Preservation recipes (Katapola

Farm Institute)

Promotion of OFSP along

roadside markets

Processed foods (chips, bakery)

Expected Outcomes and Challenges

OUTCOMES

OFSP root consumption will significantly contribute to

improved vitamin A intake & status & increased production

to improved food security

Improved agronomic practices in sweetpotato management

will lead to increased adoption in maize-dominant systems

CHALLENGES

Acceptance of orange-fleshed

sweetpotato varieties

Developing effective vine delivery &

conservation practices in drought prone

areas

Building partnerships to maximize

nutritional impact of OFSP through joint

promotion campaigns & links to

community nutrition interventions

Acknowledgements

Wolfgang H PFEIFFERWolfgang H PFEIFFER

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