Malawi: Companies using Sweet Potatoes to combat malnutrition

Growers in Malawi are increasing their production of sweet potatoes, which only a few years ago nobody was buying. One result of the higher demand is an opportunity for Konala and 8,500 other smallholders to earn higher incomes. But a second, and potentially farther-reaching benefit, is improved nutrition for many of Malawi’s consumers, urban as well as rural.

For 60 percent of Malawian children under 5 who suffer from vitamin-A deficiency, which can lead to blindness and vulnerability to diseases such as measles and pneumonia, this could be life-changing. With the potatoes being rich in vitamins, they can help reduce the amount of malnutrition in the country.

To help with this, Universal Industries, a snack and beverage producer in Malawi, is partnering with Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation and the International Potato Center to develop a value-added strategy in Malawi. Through the partnership, Universal Industries is testing and commercially launching four sweet potato-based products to the market. It is also building a sustainable supply chain by providing sweet potato farmers with training in proper production and storage, improved sweet potato vines, and a formal sweet potato market.

source: reliefweb.int

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