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In the Kanem region of western Chad, most men from poor rural families migrate to areas with better economic opportunities to ensure their family’s survival. Women often become heads of households and shoulder particularly heavy tasks, including cultivating the land. Declining agricultural production and rising food insecurity have led to higher rates of chronic malnutrition among women and children than in other parts of the country. Since 2010, FAO has been working with vulnerable groups in the region to help reduce malnutrition. As the poorest rural families lack access to fertile irrigated land in the “river valleys”, they are unable to grow the vegetables necessary for a nutritious diet. To support gardening activities, small-scale irrigation projects and nutrition education, FAO brings together landowners and farmers who do not have access to irrigated land in the valleys. These efforts have increased agricultural production, boosted incomes and significantly reduced malnutrition.
Kanem has long suffered from extremely high rates of child malnutrition. Nutrition surveys conducted since the late 1990s have put global acute malnutrition rates among children under five at more than 20 percent, well above the internationally recognized emergency threshold of 15 percent. At the same time, various studies have highlighted Kanem’s potential to increase agricultural production by developing unused land in shallow, fertile river valleys. This would improve food availability and boost purchasing power for vulnerable households.
The main aim of the project is to strengthen vulnerable households in Kanem to increase food production and purchasing power through four components: valley vegetable production, goat rearing, income-generating activities and drip irrigation for home vegetable production. These components are complemented by a short activity on good nutrition.
Farmland loans and women’s empowerment offer solutions
The lender signed a five-year land loan agreement with the poorest user groups. The project enabled women’s groups in the region to use fertile irrigated land and cultivate it under their own name, a region where women rarely have access to agricultural land. The women have access to arable land and have also been trained in good agricultural practices to ensure sustainable agriculture in Kanem. The horticulture activities implemented in the river valley have significantly increased food production for household consumption.
Women are now able to engage in economically viable activities throughout the year. Access to arable land in the valley not only allows families to have a more diverse and balanced diet, but the work they do also provides a greater and more stable income.
FAO’s activities have increased food production among beneficiary households, thereby improving food security in the community and increasing the purchasing power of more than 50% of beneficiary households. This additional income has been used to improve family nutrition, with significant results: child malnutrition rates among beneficiary households have dropped to 12.6%, while child malnutrition rates among non-beneficiary households are 31.1%.
Expanding impact through partnership with WFP and UNICEF
FAO’s office in Mao (capital of Kanem region) is housed within the WFP office, reflecting coordination and cooperation between the agencies. FAO is working with WFP to implement a food-for-work programme to respond to the current food crisis in Kanem. FAO is also working with UNICEF to implement a horticulture programme and provide nutrition education.
As of early 2013, 211 women’s groups had benefited from the approach developed in the initial FAO project. The approach has been replicated several times, not only by FAO but also by other organizations in Chad, such as Islamic Relief France, Oxfam, Action Contre la Faim and Agencia Technical et de Co-operation d’Aid, as well as by the Government of Chad’s National Food Security Programme.
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