Investing in climate-resilient
agriculture not only improves food security but also contributes
to eradicating malnutrition, the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) said in a new report Tuesday.
The report, entitled The Nutrition Advantage - Harnessing the
Nutrition Co-Benefits of Climate Resilient Agriculture, is a
study of the Rome-based UN agency's experience in improving
nutrition in climate-sensitive agricultural investments.
It shows that climate change impacts in agriculture and the
prevalence of malnutrition in rural areas are deeply
intertwined.
"For those living on land that is increasingly degraded, or
at risk due to greater climate variability, what is grown is not
as rich in nutritious content as it could be, which has
implications for rural and urban populations alike," said IFAD
President Gilbert F. Houngbo.
The research also points to the urgent need to sensitize
farmers to spending their hard-earned income on more nutritious
food choices which lead to better health outcomes for the whole
family, it said.
Income-raising activities are also crucial to allow families
to buy the food they do not grow themselves.
Paired with nutrition education, the report shows the
positive economic and nutritional benefits of a diversified
approach.
"Promoting diversified, climate-smart food systems that take
nutritional considerations into account can help smallholders to
be more resilient, provide more stable incomes and improve
dietary quality, while at the same time addressing climate
change," said Margarita Astralaga, Director of IFAD's
Environment and Climate Division.
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