Increasing Nutrition: Women Farmers at the Forefront

INCREASING NUTRITION Women Farmers at the Forefront Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world, with health risks passed from mother to child. More than 1/2 of pre-school age children, roughly 9.5 Million, are stunted and underweight. 46% of undernourished children do not live past the age of five. Those that survive are highly susceptible to health-related issues and poor psychological development. The human body requires several necessities for maximum health development: +(CAL Nutrients 16 Primary, Secondary and Micronutrients Sufficient Quality Calories Vitamins What's missing from the Bangladeshi diet? 36 30 Fe Zn Iron vitamin Zinc 70% of women in Bangladesh have an iron deficiency as do 1/2 of the nation's children. This leads to chronic low energy, overall ill health and premature death. Why are these vital nutrients missing? REASON #1 70% of the Bangladeshi population lives in rural, poverty stricken areas. REASON #2 Bangladeshis consume about 2,250-2,500 calories per day. 1,700 of those calories come from rice. The minimum daily intake for fruits and vegetables is 400 grams per person/day. 400.0, Bangladeshis are only consuming 126 grams per person/day. Millions are living on an exclusively rice-based diet. This is causing a "hidden hunger" epidemic. Working to increase nutrition To help stop this cycle, IFDC (with funding from USAID) and the Walmart Foundation are training 40,000 Bangladeshi women farmers in fertilizer technology to increase their fruit and vegetable production. The project will increase both gender parity and nutrition for rural Bangladeshi families. OFDC © IFDC 03/14 SOURCES: FAO, World Health Organization, Cornell University