A project using a food based approach through the production, consumption
and marketing of orange flesh sweet potato seeks to improve vitamin A
deficiency especially among children under five years in Ghana.

The initiative, System Approach to Improve and Sustain Food Security in West
Africa (SATISFY), undertaken by World Vision Ghana would benefit two
districts in the Brong Ahafo region, namely Kintampo South and Atebubu.

"We have realized that vitamin A deficiency is a problem in Ghana and
supplementation is becoming a challenge, for the past three months now, the
supply has been erratic,'' says Stephen Matey, World Vision project
coordinator. "There is the need to introduce new approach and we think that
food based approach is better, given that farming plays a major role in the
country. Thus, farmers can produce crops that are high in vitamin A to
address vitamin A deficiency to improve nutrition,'' he stated at Orange
Flesh Sweet Potato Community of Practice meeting, organized by Farm Radio
International in Accra.

According to Ghana Health Service, 12,000 children die every year of
underweight-related ailments due to malnutrition. The statistics also
indicate that under-nutrition contributes to about half of all child deaths
beyond early infancy, whilst one out of every 13 children in Ghana die
before their 5th birthday.

Having received training in OFSP, Matey says the plan is to pass on the
knowledge to agricultural and extension officers and also to train the
farmers and support them to grow, consume, and market the crop to get
additional income.

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