Nutrition discussions, field tours, and a chance to taste some intriguing amaranth dishes drew many to attend field days in Babati and Kiteto.

In July 2017 WorldVeg and partners hosted a series of farmer field days in six villages in two districts of Tanzania—three each in Babati (Mamire, Gidabagara and Dudiye villages) and Kiteto (Magungu, Kimana and Matui villages). The events were held in collaboration with Helen Keller International, district councils of Babati and Kiteto, KINAPA, and local politicians.  About 568 participants (313 women and 255 men) from Kiteto and 491 participants (211 women and 280 men) from Babati attended.

Each field day featured short seminars about the symptoms and effects of malnutrition and the importance of consuming vegetables as part of a balanced diet. District nutrition officers emphasized that vegetables are a cheap and affordable means to address for malnutrition. HKI representatives guided visitors through demonstration gardens and to the plots of nearby beneficiaries to see how local residents and farmers are adopting home garden practices. A WorldVeg staff member gave an update on the Homegarden Scaling Project in Tanzania, showing the achievements vs. targets in the respective district.

Cooking demonstrations and tastings tickled the taste buds of participants, who had the opportunity to try several vegetable dishes including different products made with amaranth seed. Visitors also engaged in lively Q&A sessions, where they could discuss matters related to vegetable production, preparation, and nutritional values.

Story and photos: Radegunda Kessy