Crossing boundaries to reduce malnutrition? An institutional study of agriculture and nutrition in Uganda, Mozambique and Nigeria

This study examines how agriculturalists and nutritionists in Uganda, Mozambique, and Nigeria might work more closely together to reduce malnutrition, hunger, and poverty.The study concludes that the two professional communities are missing important opportunities to collaborate that would have a positive impact on people’s nutritional well being. In particular, linking agriculture and nutrition efforts would address the situations where improved agricultural production or higher rural incomes have not resulted in significant improvements. Intersectoral collaboration is seen as essential to effectively deal with these problems.Main cross country findings of the study include: <B>Cross sectoral collaboration:</B> there are clear nutritional reasons for closer collaboration between agriculturalists and nutritionists, however, there are strong barriers to such collaboration such as: budgets and resource flows follow sectoral lines; and cross cutting issues, such as nutrition, are not central to the work plan of any sector and are easy to ignore<B>Collaboration requires reworking sectoral priorities: </B> at present, in all three countries, agriculture generally ignores nutrition and focuses on improving productivity and profitabilityReworking the priorities could be achieved by expanding the key objectives of the agricultural sector to include improved nutrition<B>Agriculture and nutrition sectors:</B> in central government, both sectors are underfunded: agriculture is relative to other line ministries and nutrition lies within the health sector. Thus the relationship is characterised by competition for scarce resources<B>New opportunities for collaboration can be provided through:</B> decentralisation, targeted funding for joint work, and poverty alleviation. Nutrition is a key factor for improving the capabilities of people to bring about sustained economic growth[adapted from author]