People living with HIV/AIDS in the region to benefit from agriculture-based health & livelihoods initiative.
IITA has launched an initiative that would improve the productivity and contribute to sustainable livelihoods of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in southern Africa through agricultural innovations.
Dubbed “Making Agricultural Innovations Work for Smallholder Farmers Affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa”, or MIRACLE, the 3-year project aims to improve the health and nutrition status, food security, and incomes of PLWHA in the subregion.
Melba Davis-Mussagy, IITA Agroenterprise Development Specialist and manager of the project, says that MIRACLE’s key interventions include production, consumption, and marketing of nutritious crop and livestock products, lobbying for supportive agricultural and health policies, and strengthening capacities of stakeholders.
She added that the project will also endeavor to transition beneficiary households to sustainably produce their own nutritious foods and to use these to generate additional incomes. MIRACLE will also develop and promote value added products and processes developed from various nutrient-dense crops. It will also advocate appropriate policy options to link agriculture and nutrition to improve the overall health status of PLWHA and their families in the project sites.
MIRACLE will be implemented in Zambia, Swazil and, Malawi, and Mozambique and will work in partnership with various government agencies, NGOs, farmer groups, and community-based organizations. It is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
The project was officially launched with a ceremony held at the Farmer’s Training Center in Mukulaikwa, Mumbwa District, one of the project sites in Zambia, on 12 August. It was attended by officials of the Embassy of Sweden, IITA, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO), Provincial and District Agriculture Coordinators, Development Aid from People to People, In-Service Training Trust, National Food and Nutrition Commission of Zambia, and HIV/AIDS support groups. Also in attendance were village heads, media people, and target beneficiaries.
In her keynote, Monde Zulu, Chief Agriculture Research Officer of the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), representing the Permanent Secretary of MACO, described MIRACLE as a “strategic initiative that will help uplift the plight of poor farmers and their households affected with the scourge of HIV/AIDS.”
“MIRACLE would also reduce the unwarranted stigma associated with being a PLWHA – of being unproductive and helpless,” she added.
She especially thanked IITA and SIDA for implementing MIRACLE in Zambia, promising that MACO will fully support the project’s activities.
Davies Chitundu, Regional Advisor for Food Security and Human Rights of the Swedish Embassy in Zambia, speaking on behalf of SIDA, said that MIRACLE “dovetails nicely with the mission of SIDA and the Swedish government of fighting poverty through innovations and supporting civil society organizations in southern Africa, particularly addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the productivity of affected people.”
“We are proud to be associated with the MIRACLE project and IITA,” he emphasized.
In response, David Chikoye, IITA R4D Director for Southern Africa, praised SIDA and project partners “for their commitment in helping PLWHA attain a decent and productive way of life.”
While addressing the audience, Chikoye exclaimed, “We are all together in this, and together we will make MIRACLE work!”.
During the launch, the local HIV/AIDS support group exhibited different food items processed from local cassava, soybean, and cowpea, one of the many activities that will be introduced by the MIRACLE project. The attendees were also treated to a play on HIV/AIDS performed by members of the Mukulaikwa community. A poster exhibition of the different improved crop varieties to be introduced by the project was also held.
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