Hortifresh Nov__December 2012.indd - Hortfresh Journal

Smallholder farmers feed over 1000delegates at AGRF on AfricanTraditional Foods DayTanzanian President,H.E. President Jakaya MrishoKikwete acquaints himself withFarm Concern International atthe AGRA Market Access standduring the AGRF 2012 in ArushaAs ordinary citizensand global leadersacknowledge the persistentdevelopment concerns ofhunger, malnutrition andclimate change, and theaccompanying challenges offeeding the African continent,the potential of Africantraditional foods to meetthese real challenges tendsto be down-played in theon-going debates for creatingsustainable and nutritiousfood sources to feed AfricaAbout the African Green RevolutionForum 2012, Arusha, Tanzania26 th -28 th September, 2012Farm Concern Internationalparticipated at the AfricanGreen Revolution Forum2012 in Arusha, Tanzania,joining key African andglobal leaders to answerto the question of how tofeed the future. The theme4For leads in Horticultureand theworld.However,Africantraditionalfoods arenot onlyhighlynutritiousbut alsowidelyavailable,diverse andperformwell undercultivationeven inextremeclimaticconditions.They also lend themselvesto a creative and diverserange of cuisines, tastes andopportunities for utilisation.The African GreenRevolution Forum, inArusha, Tanzania providedan opportune momentto raise the profile ofAfrican traditional foodsby showcasing this richdiversity and versatilityunder the theme of an‘African Traditional FoodsDay’ alongside the plannedconventional menu forover 1,000 guests at theNgurdoto Mountain Lodgewho included the Chair ofthe Alliance for a Greenof the Forum was ScalingInvestment and Innovationfor Sustainable AgriculturalGrowth and Food Security.Food security is high onthe global agenda, withleaders turning to Africafor agricultural solutionsNovember- December 2012Revolution in Africa (AGRA),Kofi Annan and TanzanianPresident, Jakaya Kikwete .The venue was the NgurdotoMountain Lodge, Arushaand smallholder farmersfrom various parts ofArusha Region who arefacilitated by Farm ConcernInternational (FCI) withthe support of AGRA andthe Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation played a key rolein supplying the ingredientsthat went into making a richvariety of authentic Africanculinary experiences onthe lunch menu that day.The menu had threecategories of Africantraditional foods includingvegetables, energy foods,and protein sources. Thevegetables dishes servedwere; Ngogwe (Okra) ,Bamia (African egg plantsserved with okra), Matembele(sweet potato leaves) andMajani ya maboga (pumpkinleaves). Plant proteinserved included; Pigeonpeas (Mbaazi) with coconutmilk), Dolichos /blackbean(ngwara ). Among theenergy-giving foods, greenbanana, baked sweet potato,Ugali wa mihogo (cassavaflour ugali from cassavaflour), and maghimbi (arrowroots fried with carrotsthat will see 50 millionpeople raised out of povertyover the next decade.This calls for tangibleinvestments in Africa’spotential for rapid andsustainable agriculturalgrowth as well as raisingKofi Annan and Melinda Gatesengage with a nutritionist atMbuguni. Looking on are MumbiKimathi, Strategy & InnovationsDirector FCI (seated 2ndleft) and Ann Mbabu, Director,Market Access Program AGRAand onion) was served.Alongside the Africantraditional food the chefincluded a few other exoticfoods like fried Irish potatoesand vegetable rice as wellas a mouth-wateringvariety of animal protein.As they dined, the delegateswere able to keep up withthe latest information onAfrican traditional foods,including recipes via five TVscreens placed at vantagepoints throughout the diningareas. The delegates got acomplementary bookmarkalong with their lunch whichelicited positive responsesfrom the delegates withsome inquiring if they couldhave the recipes to try athome after the Forum.Pix available (Studio)Nutritious composite flours includingCassava and Sorghum fromMbuguni Commercial VillageMbugunithe capacity of millions ofsmallholder farmers to riseto the challenge of unlockingthe continent’s potential.