The multi-composite, safe, nutritious, and affordable porridge flours aimed at diversifying diets of consumers have been launched in Kenya and Uganda. The flours are a result of research and innovation processes by local and international public and private organizations in the two countries. In Kenya, the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), a private processor – AZURI Health Ltd, and two German universities (University of Goettingen and Hohenheim University), launched Jamii Tosha and Toto Tosha, two quick-to cook multi-composite porridge flours specially developed and nutritionally balanced to meet the needs of families and children under five years respectively. Both flours are made of millet, maize, orange-fleshed sweet potato, cooked bio-fortified beans, and amaranth vegetables, and the Jamii tosha additionally has sorghum. The flours are affordable to BoP consumers: a 500 gram packet is sold at Kenya shillings 70 ($0.70) and 75 ($0.75) for Toto tosha and Jamii tosha flour respectively. In Uganda, the Super Kawomera instant porridge flour has been developed through collaboration between CIAT, the Ugandan National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), a private processor – Nutreal Ltd, and the two German universities mentioned. The Super Kawomera flour is made of bio-fortified beans, millet, grain amaranth, maize and soybeans. It is nutritionally balanced to contribute to the nutritional requirements of women of reproductive age and children below five years. The flour is instant, thus convenient and tasty (does not require addition of sugar or milk). A 50 gram sachet sells for Uganda shillings 500 ($ 0.14) making it affordable to a wide range of consumers.

Consumption of these flours will contribute in improving diets of the vulnerable rural and urban consumers at the base of the pyramid in Kenya and Uganda thereby assisting in fighting malnutrition in the two countries. In Kenya, malnutrition is considered to be the single greatest contributor to deaths among children under 5, causing 45 percent of those deaths, either directly or indirectly. The latest Kenya Demographic Health Survey shows that 26 percent of children under 5 are stunted, 11 percent underweight, and 46 percent of women are iron deficient, while 26 percent of adult women and men in Kenya are overweight or obese. In Uganda, five in every ten children are malnourished and 29 percent of children under five are stunted.

Development of these multi-composite porridge flours has been made possible by funding from Germany through BMZ/GIZ under a three year project “Making Value Chains work for Nutrition in East Africa”. The project implements demand and supply side interventions along commodity value chains to improve nutrition of Base of the Pyramid (BoP) consumers and incomes of value chain actors, including smallholder farmers. At the same time, safety of the agricultural commodities used as ingredients to the porridge flours is enhanced and physical loss and nutrient leakages are reduced through use of affordable solar powered mobile dryer (Read more about the dryer). This is combined with demand led research to understand preference and willingness to pay of the BoP target consumer.

The launch of the Toto and Jamii Tosha porridge flours in Kenya took place on 28^th August 2018 in Nairobi Kenya, while the Super Kawomera flour was launched on 12^th April 2018 in Kampala, Uganda.

 

Figure 1: Launch of the Jamii and Toto Tosha porridge flours in Kenya

Ms. Tei Mukunya, CEO, Azuri Health Ltd thanked all the partners who have supported the process to finally having the two nutritious flours in the Kenyan market. ‘’Azuri Health Ltd started eight years ago as an innovative processor who was looking for innovative products to diversify consumer diets, identifying nutrition as an unmet market opportunity. My interaction with various actors propelled the business to greater heights and we have developed more products in our name. The launch of these two nutritious porridge flours – Toto Tosha and Jamii Tosha, will diversify consumer diets in Kenya today.’’

Speaking at the launch event in Kenya, Dr. Christine Chege, an Economist and Nutrition Specialist from CIAT highlighted how important all project partners have been towards development of the Tosha flours. “Today we celebrate results of a successful collaboration between local and international private and public organizations. The research and academic organizations in this project have provided the required knowledge base to guide development of nutritious and affordable flours which will play an important role in fighting malnutrition in this country.”

The Chief Guest, Prof Hamadi Boga, Principal Secretary, State Department of Agricultural Research lauded the efforts that private sector organizations are doing to complement research work that is going on. “Private sector role is critical in ensuring the work of research is carried forward. We will ensure that policies supporting their operations are enforced and are working. As a country, we need to focus on product processing as a value addition apart from production. We also need to have a lot of knowledge. With research comes the knowledge that will elevate innovate products in the agricultural markets.’’

In Uganda, the launch of the Super Kawomera porridge flour was officiated by a senior nutritionist in the Ministry of Health, Ms. Sarah Ngalombi. Speaking at the launch, Ms. Ngalombi expressed her excitement about the new product indicating that the new porridge flour will play an important role in addressing nutrition challenges in the country. “‘Many children in Uganda are fed empty calories, resulting in high rates of hidden hunger, for example, 50 percent of children are anemic. The Super Kawomera instant porridge flour provides micronutrients such as iron and zinc which prevent anemia and promote brain development thus enhancing children’s health and education” She stated.

Figure 2: Ms. Sarah Ngalombi, Senior Nutritionist in the Ministry of Health, Uganda, launching the Super Kawomera product

Acknowledging the importance of research and partnerships, Prof. Dorothy Nakimbugwe from Makerere University and the Director of Nutreal Ltd indicated that it has been very beneficial to her company collaborating in the project with research organizations and farmers. “We take research findings beyond publications in University library shelves to the communities where they are most needed and are used to improve nutrition, health and livelihoods. Super Kawomera is a good example of that”, she stated.

Figure 3: Left Prof. Dorothy Nakimbugwe Director Nutreal Ltd, speaking to Dr. Stanley Nkalubo from NARO

Dr. Stanley Nkalubo, the Team Leader and Breeder, Legumes Research Program, at the National Crops Resource Research Institute (NaCCRI), Uganda, highlighted the importance of working directly with farmers as producers of raw material for development of the porridge flour.

During the launch events in both countries, participants had a porridge tasting session where they were served the new variants of porridge.

Figure 5: Participants tasting the Tosha porridge in Kenya

Figure 6: Children drinking the Super Kawomera porridge, in Uganda

Read more about the project:

Making value chains work for food and nutrition security of vulnerable populations in East Africa

Low-income communities need more affordable and nutritious food

CIAT work on nutrition sensitive value chains in East Africa showcased at FAO in Rome

 

Making Value Chains Work for Food and Nutrition Security of Vulnerable Populations in East Africa is supported by:

The CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) has provided co-funding. 

It is a joint project between DAPA-Sustainable Food Systems and the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) programs under CIAT. The project is led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), in collaboration with Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Ugandan National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), The University of Hohenheim (UHOH), and University of Göttingen (UGOE).

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