Over 90 percent of Tanzanians are not meeting the recommended fruit and vegetable intake, linked to a higher risk of non-communicable diseases. The Tanzanian government has initiated a national nutrition action plan aiming to decrease this figure to 68 percent by 2025.
Dr Nyamizi Bundala, Assistant Director for Livestock Products, Food Safety, and Nutrition at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, unveiled the plan at an international fruit and vegetable science conference in Arusha on August 27, 2024. The event saw participation from 250 scientists across eight countries, focusing on Tanzania's low fruit and vegetable consumption despite its considerable production levels.
Dr Bundala cited a 2022 global nutrition report indicating a rise in the population unable to access a healthy diet from 112 million to 3.1 billion globally. Despite Tanzania's adequate fruit and vegetable production, consumption rates are low, fueling non-communicable disease prevalence.
"Our target is to reduce the percentage of people not consuming enough fruits and vegetables to 68 percent by 2025. This goal is part of a broader effort to enhance public health through better nutrition," Dr Bundala stated. She highlighted the global increase in non-communicable diseases, with 40 percent prevalence and 20 percent of children overweight.
The five-year strategy (2021-2026) of Tanzania focuses on reducing malnutrition across all age groups, aiming to lower stunting from 31.8 percent in 2021/22 to 24 percent by 2025/26. "The strategy seeks to lower stunting... While our food production is adequate, including vegetables and fruits, consumption levels are alarmingly low," Dr Bundala added.
Dr Gabriel Rugalema, Director of the World Vegetable Center for Africa, called for enhanced education on the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption to address stunting and childhood malnutrition.
Source: TheCitizen