Laura Elizabeth Pohl/Bread for the World
Tohomina Akter, 18, picks amaranth
in Barisal, Bangladesh. She is part of
an effort to help prevent stunting by
cultivating vegetables.
Young women accompanied by babies and toddlers
come to courtyard talks to learn, from facilitators and
each other, about the nutrients people need and ways of
making sure their children get foods that contain them.
Every participant in one such meeting could name local
foods that are rich in vitamin A, for example. (If anyone
forgot, she could turn to the group’s set of laminated nutrition cards, which are labeled by nutrient and show photos of good sources). Growth monitoring sessions—familiar to many American parents as well—verify that a baby
is gaining enough weight to stay on his or her growth
curve. Fortunately, mild to moderate malnutrition generally shows up on the curve before it is clearly visible to
parents or health professionals, so it can be detected and
treated earlier.
Long-term investments in agricultural productivity,
with a particular focus on female farmers, will have a
transformative impact in developing countries, helping them to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals and build more resilient and empowered
communities.
Further Thoughts
Share of Male and Female Agricultural Holders in Main Developing Regions
Latin America and the Caribbean
Sub-Saharan Africa
Southern Asia and Southeastern Asia
North Africa and ]