(Jun. 18) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has announced a new $3 million project that aims to improve food security and nutrition of women and young people in Egypt. The project, financed by the government of Italy, aims to improve food and nutrition security through higher food production, nutrition education for women and young people and capacity building to strengthen national and decentralized institutions. The project will establish Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools and Community Model Gardens to give women and young people the opportunity to manage their own microfood production enterprises, to learn how to grow food and to raise small animals, and to improve household incomes through the sale of food products. Training on how to produce organic fertilizers, moreover, will allow households to avoid purchasing expensive fertilizers. The project will also have nutrition education and behaviour change communication plans to be developed together with local communities. In order to reduce child malnutrition, these plans will promote food diversification, food hygiene, family planning, breast feeding and complementary feeding practices. Radio dramas and spots, videos and events will also be used to promote better nutrition education. Community kitchens will offer women the opportunity to meet regularly and use knowledge acquired to prepare healthy meals using fruits and vegetables produced in their microgardens. (Red)
