Container gardening to combat micronutrients deficiencies in mothers and young children during dry/lean season in northern Ghana. Issue 6 (2nd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kubuga, Clement Kubreziga; Dillon, Andrew; Song, Won
• Is Part Of: Journal of hunger & environmental nutrition. Volume 14:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 850
• Page End: 863
• Publication Date: 2019-11-02
• Subjects: Container garden -- food security -- micronutrients -- iron -- dry/lean season -- women and children -- northern Ghana; Nutrition -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Hunger -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Food supply -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2018.1512922
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-0248

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Food insecurity is prevalent in northern Ghana, where dry season stretches for 7–8 months (Oct-May) a year and the majority of inhabitants are subsistence farmers. We aimed to address inadequate dietary sources of iron and iodine in the dry/lean season by mother-child dyads by developing unconventional food production systems. Women group with 6–24-month-old children ( n = 58) in two communities farmed 40 wooden containers for growing indigenous iron-rich (19.30 mg/100 g) Hibiscus sabdariffa for consumption and 15 containers for cash crop cabbage. Hibiscus sabdariffa produced from two harvest cycles/dry season and cash crops were adequate for three weekly community meals that improved iron and iodine status of the participating mother-child dyads. Future research is needed to expand the project to involve all households in the communities.