adminTanaka Mahanya
THE My Food is African campaign coordinator for Zimbabwe, Bertha Nherera, has called on Africans, particularly young people, to change their consumption behaviour towards traditional foods.
Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on promoting indigenous foods, Nherera praised efforts to encourage their consumption, but said there was a need for changes in behaviour.
As well as their nutritional value, she highlighted the fact that traditional foods match human DNA and thus do not need to be grown using chemicals.
Zimbabwe is one of 13 countries where the My Food is African campaign is taking place, seeking to promote traditional foods and improve their affordability.
“We want to bring awareness to the value of traditional foods, and see a change in behaviour in terms of consumption.
“People know the importance of consuming traditional foods, but they do not consume it, so the campaign will enlighten young people to consume traditional foods.
“Instead of focusing on fortifying foods, we want people to know that these foods match our DNA, and we do not need to grow them with chemicals,” she said.
She said the Food and Nutrition Council talks about policy, which makes Zimbabwe one of the countries with the best policies on consumption of traditional foods.
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge