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.

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Media Contact: Nadia McGill ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.5145 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org

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