Orange-Flesh Sweet Potato: Promising Partnerships for Assuring the Integration of Nutritional Concerns into Agricultural Research and Extension

Since 1994, Mozambique has made considerable progress in reducing its dependence on imported basic foodstuffs, raising agricultural production while macro-economic conditions have improved impressively. However, the majority of the rural populace continues to be poor, depending principally on semi-subsistence agriculture to survive. While land access is still relatively good, there is little use of improved varieties, purchased inputs, and labor-saving mechanization technologies to increase agriculture productivity. Widespread poverty and inadequate health care are the principle determinants of the high levels of chronic malnutrition (stunting) found among children under five years of age in rural areas of Mozambique. (44% falling below the cut-off point of -2 Z-scores for height-for-age (DPDS et al. 1998)).