Diversifying diets for improved health in Zambia's Barotse floodplain

摘要

The people who live in Zambia's Barotese floodplain have to compete with annual floods and periodic droughts. Accessing nutritious foods throughout the year can be challenging. Now the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) is working to increase food security.With little income, less than $1.25 per day, they keep livestock, catch fish or harvest wild foods from the surrounding plain. "During floods, plants like sweet potatoes are transplanted to the upper land and maize is also grown there," explains mother of three Namakando Mubiana from Mapungu village. "However, this year's maize and sweet potatoes dried up because of drought. Inthis village only one person grows green vegetables. Some also tried it but were discouraged because our gardens were flooded before our vegetables were ready."