If we were designing an agricultural investment programme, the top 5 things we recommend to maximize its impact on nutrition are as follows:
1. Raise awareness to the targeted population on the importance of nutritional diet
This refers to the dissemination of information by nutritional experts or agents regarding the intake of foods that will supply the needed nutrition to the body. More so, research have consistently proven that women are more than likely to invest in the nutritional intake of her family and are more effective in delivering improved nutritional outcome (WBR, 2007). Therefore, the programme will facilitate the persistent involvement of more women in target communities, while remaining cognizant of their constraints, such as time and income, among others.
2. Promote and foster technological change through support of research and marketing
Research and development in agriculture typically leads to a higher value of crop or agricultural produce. Allowing the market to function unencumbered by output control policies tends to work, achieving lower prices for high value food, therefore increasing the accessibility to those who need high value food the most.
3. Encourage institutional support/participation
Developing countries often lack the collaboration among agricultural institutions in order to effectively execute projects or programmes. As such, we would advocate for the involvement of appropriate institutions in aiding the processes of agricultural programs at a broad policy level
4. Increase the availability and accessibility of high value food in both rural and urban communities
Increasing food production through agricultural programmes increases the availability of food; however it does not ensure that the poor and vulnerable have sufficient access to high value food since the quantity of food produced tells little about the nutritional value persons gain from consumption. Having said such, this can be attained by creating “sustainable and stable employment opportunities” that would increase availability of and accessibility to food, especially among rural households (FNSS, 2011).
5. Initiate and manage a crisis response agency
It is accepted public knowledge that developing countries (such as Guyana) are more susceptible to natural disasters, climate change and man made disasters. Often times the agricultural sector suffers the most from such unforeseen calamities and this can lead to a massive decline in food production and consumption. As such, we strongly advocate for the establishment and management of an effective response agency that will specifically address food production and consumption in times of crisis.
Final Year Economics Students (group 4) University of Guyana