What happened to fruits security?

 As we celebrate the 2020 #WorldFoodDay today, I am reminded of my yummy love of a variety of fruits as part of my daily diet. Fruits and fibre are essential to keep healthy and active from day-to-day.

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a daily intake of at least 400g of fruits and vegetables [equivalent to five (5) portions] as a preventive measure for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The recommended basket of fruits and vegetables intake will ensure everyone meets their daily body needs for dietary fibre. Being a stickler for development, food security and the welfare of the urban and rural poor, I had begun to ask questions. For instance, can a typical Nigerian household afford 400g of fruits and vegetables for every member of the household? Some previous research shows that the staples diet in many Nigerian homes, as may be the case in several other African households, tends to the carbohydrate-heavy.

 

For children, age 0-5 years, who need balanced diets for healthy and balanced development, the situation may be worrisome. Unhealthy snacks and fizzy drinks seem to have taken the place due to nutritious snacks and health drinks in many school lunch packs. Why could this be the phenomenon?  Some schools who serve mid-day snacks to pupils find it more convenient to serve pastries than serve farm-fresh fruits, fruit punches or smoothies. This should bother us all, because children will grow up craving junk foods, candies and everything else that foster obesity and weak heart conditions.

 

I enjoy research beyond the desk into mundane affairs of day-to-day living, as it excites and feeds my curious mind. The pleasures of picking up research ideas on the streets is second to none (*wink*).  Recently, I took a trip to a fairly decent neighbourhood of a suburb, which had a row of corner shacks and stalls. The stalls bore food provisions and other household items for sale, while a number of traders vending fruits such as apples, oranges, pears, garden eggs, displayed them on trays and in wheelbarrows. I asked to buy a common pack of three slightly sweetened cracker biscuits from a line of corner shops. Then, it occurred to me that it was cheaper to buy the manufactured biscuit item at NGN10 (US$0.026) than it was to buy one (1) green apple at NGN70 (US$0.18),  an orange at NGN25 (US$0.066), an English pear at NGN120 (US$0.32) and a bundle of garden eggs at NGN50 (US$0.13). 

 

With constrained household budgets for food, fruit and snacks, the poor may likely make household purchase decisions based on the market prices of available items. Is it surprising why children from low-income families may be malnourished? It is a cheaper option to buy a low-nutrient manufactured sugary snack than it is buy a highly nutritious fruit or vegetable. I am burdened about the implications of my crude findings for healthy growth and development for children, women and men in low-income and middle-income households.

 

So on today’s World Food Day, I speak in favour of ‘fruits security’! To adapt the definitive words of the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security; all persons  on all days of their lives should have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious fruits and vegetables that meet their fruit preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life. To achieve fruit security, it would need to become a priority in our policy and social actions towards a more productive rural economy, fruit farming and fruit value chains in Nigeria and all of Africa.

Hearty cheers to fruits security!!!

 

What do you think?

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