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Thursday 21 June 2012

Canada funds $2.9 mln study of nutrition in rural households


Give our kids a better deal
PHNOM PENH, 21 June 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - The University of British Columbia and Helen Keller International have received $2.9 million from the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund to improve food production and nutrition in small rural households.

In a statement, the university said the study would examine how Cambodian farmers could combine aquaculture and home gardens to produce more affordable and nutritious food."Homestead food production has long been promoted as a means to improve nutrition, food security, and livelihoods of poor rural farmers," said lead researcher Tim Green.

But "a better evidence base is needed" he said. Green said the project would be the "first to rigorously evaluate the actual impact of women-centered homestead food production models, which will include fish ponds."

Green is leading the study with co-investigator Judy McLean, both from the university’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

The statement said that while Cambodia produces enough rice to feed its population, "maternal and child under-nutrition remains high due to a lack of crop diversity and shortage of nutrient-rich food."

In the research project, 600 households will raise small nutritious fish for their families in the same ponds as large fish, which will be sold for income.

"Combined with vegetable and fruit production, the project is expected to help reduce anemia and under-nutrition in a country where one-third of childhood deaths are directly related to under-nutrition and poor feeding practices.

"It should also increase household food security and incomes," the statement said.

The food security research fund is financed by Canada's International Development Research Centre, whose president David Malone said the study had wider implications. "We expect that the results of this project can be effectively scaled up and adopted for broader use throughout Asia," he said.

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