By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, April 16, Mana:  Investing in Early Years Project (IEYP) district project implementation team in Mwanza says it is satisfied with the increased adoption of the project activities being implemented in the third quarter by communities.

The activities include integrated homestead farming (IHF) as a strategy to promote nutrition and food security at the household level.

In an interview at the end of the IEYP third quarter review meeting, Principal Nutrition HIV and AIDS Officer for Mwanza District Council, Fred Kumwenda, acknowledged progress on IHF, which rolled out as part of the project’s activities.

“Adoption of IHF by the community is impressive, and it is encouraging to see households growing nutritious foods essential for the health and development of young children,” added Kumwenda.

The review meeting was held to assess gains, celebrate successes and address challenges encountered during the third quarter of the year.

In a separate interview, Senior Chief Govati commended livestock rearing, which he said has the potential to transform living standards, thereby improving household income and nutrition.

“The goat rearing is expected to improve in my area, and this will improve people’s livelihoods. It is a sustainable intervention that ensures every household benefits in the long term,” said the Senior Chief.

The review meeting drew participants from the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee, Village Nutrition Coordinating Committee, District Project Team, as well as the Area Nutrition Coordinating Committee.

During the meeting, the committee members were engaged in discussions to tackle bottlenecks encountered in the previous quarter and strategies for improved implementation in the next quarter.

The IEYP is a World Bank-funded programme meant to promote early childhood development and resilience in rural communities across Malawi.