After years of progress, the number of people suffering from Hunger has increased again. In order to increase food security, to work together in German-African team of researchers with farmers in Africa.
Every ten seconds a child under the age of five dies from Hunger. Especially in Asia, South America and Africa, the situation is difficult. Reasons for the Hunger, conflicts, poverty and climate change. Six German-African research projects have fought for five years, the causes of Hunger. Funded by the higher education consortium of the German ministries for development (BMZ), as well as education and research (BMBF) – with a two-digit million amount. At a conference in the Kenyan Naivasha, they presented in December of their results.
The Reload project, in which three German and six African universities were involved, should alleviate, for example, poverty in East Africa, by showing women how to increase their agricultural yields. The Kenyan Buke Galma is a doctoral student at the Jomo-Kenyatta University in Yuya and has worked for the project in close cooperation with various women’s groups. “The older women bring a lot of experience when it comes to traditional methods of meat processing. I’m documenting your Knowledge and connect this with what we have developed in the laboratory on the safety and quality of food.”The important thing is to reconcile traditional and modern Knowledge.
Avoid harvest losses
Women make up meat products, but also Ketchup, Chili, soups, and beverages such as wine, tea, and juices, explains Susan Tumwebaze, to be part of the Makerere University in Kampala. “We are trying to reduce the losses incurred in the production. In Uganda, for example, tomatoes lose 20 to 40 percent of their value, because they are processed after the harvest wrong. This also applies to bananas.”
The Reload project has spawned, among other things, banana porridge and dried fruit
Reload showed the women how to make the meat a longer shelf-life and food in an efficient market. It is, among others, fairs were organized, where the farmers with Agro-companies came along and helpful tips received. The at the same time the objective is to certify products for the international market, so Tumwebaze.
Food security for urban regions
George Nyarko, is working at the University for development studies in Tamale
In Ghana, nutrient leads to poor earth to harvest losses. This Problem is the project Urban Food Plus addressed: Professor George Nyarko of the University for development studies in Tamale, is working with his research group on the improvement of the soil. Use of biochar to nutrient enrich poor soil.
And you have devised a method to filter polluted water. This is especially for the North of Ghana is necessary, because there will be a water shortage. “With a self-developed filters made of biochar, we get pathogens, and heavy metals from the water. As a result, the productivity increases and the income of the farmers is growing.”
Small garden in the bag
Stefan Sieber has the kitchen gardens with developed
In some regions of Tanzania drought threatens food security. For this reason, the project Trans-SEC has introduced a method which allows, in spite of drought grow vegetables. “We have developed together with women’s groups so-called kitchen gardens. The bags are filled with earth. Above a certain layer it comes from, and to the sides of the holes are, where the vegetables grow,” explains Stefan Sieber from the Leibniz-centre for agricultural landscape research in Müncheberg, which is involved in the project.
In all projects the close collaboration of farmers and scientists stand in the foreground. Both sides should work on the height of the eyes from each other, learn together long-term solutions to stabilize and develop the food supply. It won’t solve the Problem of food security but for a long time. Several of the projects have submitted applications for a further promotion.