usaid office of food for peace guatemala bellmon estimation

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feed industry, with some to the snack food industry. There is not enough diet preference for
yellow maize and it would lead to market leakage if given as food aid.
Lentils are not culturally or traditionally part of the Guatemalan diet and would not be
appropriate for food aid rations.
Sorghum is not common in the Guatemalan diet and would not be appropriate for food aid
rations. It is consumed in small amounts by families in extreme poverty, sub-subsistence
farmers when they exhaust maize reserves, and families that are in migration for work with
extremely limited means. They prepare a sorghum atol with unrefined sugar cane. However,
sorghum production is primarily directed towards animal feed (MFEWS, 2008).
Soy-fortified bulgur could be considered as part of the food aid ration but requires further
research. Soy-fortified bulgur would avoid competition with the local maize market. It has been
distributed in the past 151
and it was reported to be used as fillings for tortillas and empanadas.
The remaining water, from soaking the bulgur can be made into a beverage. (Rowe, 2008).
Additionally, they can toast the bulgur and make it into a hot porridge (Rowe, 2008).
6.4.7. General Guidelines for Decreasing Market Impact and Improving Program Design
Under current programming, beneficiaries are reducing their market purchases of rice,
beans, lard, and Incaparina in particular. To mitigate this market impact, the BEST team
proposes a renewed focus on family nutrition and diet in food security programming to
ensure that overall food security is improved in order for the ultimate impact on the
market will be a positive one, through improvements in human capital. It is apparent that
households are making poor choices in food purchases that fail to enhance dietary
diversity, and in choices to improve utilization within the household. The potential longterm
effects of poor nutrition and obesity could lead to chronic health problems
(cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.) that the country's health system would not be
able to support.
Standardization of MCHN growth-monitoring methodologies and practices across
Awardees is critical. PVOs have varying program design, from monthly to trimester
weight monitoring, and frequency of height monitoring is low and irregular. PVOs should
use monthly ration distributions as a mechanism to encourage monthly growth
monitoring. Height/weight monitoring should be encouraged as frequently as possible,
preferably in collaboration with the local health centers.
Family planning and sexual reproductive health are a critical, and currently missing,
program component. Current MYAP holders do not address the lack of family planning
that exists in many program areas. Given Guatemala's poor land tenure system, large
household size is a critical threat to families with little land to produce their own food.
Thus, household size directly and indirectly impacts food security, and should be
addressed in holistic food security programming.
Greater program and resource emphasis on hygiene, water, and sanitation infrastructure
projects will support food security objectives, and enhance the utilization of food aid. The
provision of food without the availability of potable water will never reap intended
benefits. Poor hygiene and sanitation practices around food preparation and child
feeding are ongoing challenges to infant health.
151
The 2003 Bellmon reported that CARE distributed soy-fortified bulgur wheat for its Maternal-Child feeding programs.
BEST Analysis – Country Guatemala Chapter 6 – Distributed Food Aid 105