"MAKING IT WORK"



IN ZIMBABWE - EPISODE B

Poor nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is often linked to a lack of fat in people's diets. Fat is required to help absorb vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients. Ten of the 20 countries with the lowest per capita visible oil or fat intake in the world are in eastern and southern Africa. Rural people, especially children and nursing mothers, are the most likely to suffer from poor nutrition.

As recently as 1987, 80% of the vegetable oils and fats consumed by the population in Kenya were imported. The intake of edible oils remains low, affecting people's nutrition and health. Production of oilseeds, such as sunflower and sesame, has traditionally been minimal, and rural oil processing has been virtually nonexistent. The rural population's need for oil and animal feed have been met by urban processors at high cost. Structural adjustment programs in many African countries have exacerbated the situation, creating an even greater need for enhanced food security, as well as enterprise and employment opportunities.



Sunflower is used primarily for the production of vegetable oil, preference being given to those hybrids with a high oil content. Sunflower is a crop with some resistance to drought and can grow well in marginal rainfall areas. The crop is also relatively quick maturing and can give good yields when planted later than most crops.