Silver Spring, Maryland--At the 2nd African Nutritional Epidemiology
Conference held in Accra, Ghana, in August, the Adventist Development and
Relief Agency (ADRA) gave an oral presentation discussing ADRA's projects to
improve food security in Ghana.
The forum attracted approximately 150 participants from across Africa, Asia,
Europe, and North America.

The presentation, given by Victoria Daaku, program director for ADRA Ghana's
food security projects, detailed how ADRA is working to improve food
security for 30,000 farmer households in the West African nation.

Daaku shared with attendees details of several ADRA food security projects,
which fall into two broad categories. The first set of projects works to
improve agricultural and natural resource management in the targeted
communities. These projects include improving crop yields, reducing
post-harvest losses, improving marketing strategies, and reducing the
duration of household food shortages.

Because ADRA recognizes the vital link between food security and health,
ADRA also implements projects designed to improve the overall health of
participating communities. Along with conducting heath and nutrition
classes, ADRA is improving hygiene and sanitation in project communities by
constructing hand-dug wells, boreholes, and latrines.
"These programs have made significant gains in addressing the causes of food
insecurity among targeted recipients," said Daaku.

Together, the agricultural management and health projects will improve food
security in 900 communities located throughout the ten regions in Ghana,
benefiting more than 300,000 farmers and their dependents.

Daaku's presentation highlighted the success participants have had growing
tree crops such as mangoes, cashew, and citrus. She also discussed the
benefits of the Moringa, a tree known for its nutritional value. "The leaves
of the Moringa tree are very valuable in fighting malnutrition," explained
Daaku, who shared that ADRA's health and nutrition classes include cooking
demonstrations of how to prepare meals featuring Moringa leaves. Daaku
commented that many conference attendees expressed excitement about the
plant's potential for strengthening food security in Ghana.

"The presentation went very well," said Daaku. "It gave other organizations
a chance to get to know more about what ADRA does, and the number of
families that we work with. The attendees seemed to find it very
informative."

In its work to provide increased food security in Ghana, ADRA has partnered
with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Ghanaian Ministry of
Health, the Ghanaian Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the nutrition
department of Ghana Health Service, and local government divisions.

Since 1977, ADRA has worked with United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) to implement food security projects that help farmers
grow more drought resistant crops, and promote sustainable farming
practices.

ADRA Ghana has been active for 20 years in the areas of health care,
education, agriculture, food security, water and sanitation, resource
management, infrastructure construction, HIV and AIDS and microfinance
activities.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and
emergency management without regard to political or religious association,
age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.