Commercialisation: A meta-approach for agricultural development among smallholder farmers in Africa?

This paper presents a critique of commercialising smallholder farming for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. First it questions the validity of an overarching ‘metanarrative’ approach to development. Then it discusses the different types of knowledge, values and method and draws attention to the increasingly heterogeneous development policy context and also the heterogeneity among the smallholder ‘targets’ of agrifood policies. Second, a case study exemplifies this critique in the context of an existing multistakeholder strategy of commercialising the Zambian cassava sector. Although limited in scope, the primary research illustrates how a commercial supply response should not be assumed from within a rural sector more concerned with food security. The study casts doubt on the validity of a commercialising metanarrative. Rather, it endorses the need for a multidisciplinary understanding of the particular and local context which influences knowledge generation and development design, accounting for different value systems and perceptions of reality and smallholder farmer decision making within heterogeneous contexts

Spirulina Effectiveness Study on Child Malnutrition in Zambia

Ensuring adequate nutrition among vulnerable children has been a serious challenge in Zambia. Chronic child malnutrition is more predominant at 45 per cent while underweight and wasting are at 15 and 5 per cent respectively. This study tested the effectiveness of spirulina on malnourished children in Zambia. The study took place from June 2012 to February 2013. Sixty children were divided into spirulina treatment and control groups. The outcome of taking spirulina was analysed by collecting anthropometric data. The fixed-effect regression result showed that 10g of spirulina dairy intake leads to improvement by producing 0.29 higher points in the height-for-age z-score (HAZ); confidence interval (CI)[0.0404, 0.535]. On the contrary, the weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) and the mid-upper arm circumference z-score (MUACZ) did not show a significant difference, although treated children showed a larger improvement by 0.09 points and 0.38 points, respectively. This study implied the validity of spirulina in reducing chronic malnutrition

Multiple micronutrient supplementation using spirulina platensis and infant growth, morbidity, and motor development: Evidence from a randomized trial in Zambia.

In developing countries, micronutrient deficiency in infants is associated with growth faltering, morbidity, and delayed motor development. One of the potentially low-cost and sustainable solutions is to use locally producible food for the home fortification of complementary foods. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that locally producible spirulina platensis supplementation would achieve the following: 1) increase infant physical growth, 2) reduce morbidity, and 3) improve motor development. We randomly assigned 501 Zambian infants into the control group or the spirulina group. Children in the control group (n = 250) received a soya-maize-based porridge for 12 months; those in the spirulina group (n = 251) received the same food with the addition of spirulina. We assessed the change in infants' anthropometric status, morbidity (probable pneumonia, cough, probable malaria, and fever), and motor development over 12 months. The baseline characteristics were not different between the two groups. The attrition rate (47/501) was low. The physical growth of infants in the two groups was similar at 12 months of intervention, as measured by height-for-age z-scores and weight-for-age z-scores. Infants in the spirulina group were 11 percentage points less likely to develop a cough (CI: -0.23, -0.00; P < 0.05) and were more likely to be able to walk alone at 15 months (0.96 ± 0.19) than infants in the control group (0.92 ± 0.28). Home-fortification of complementary foods using spirulina had positive effects on upper respiratory infection morbidity prevention and motor milestone acquisition among Zambian infants

Spirulina supplementation and infant growth, morbidity and motor development

Background: In developing countries, micronutrient deficiency in infants is associated with growth faltering, morbidity, and delayed motor development. One of the potentially low-cost and sustainable solutions is to use locally producible food for the home fortification of complementary foods. Objective: The objectives were to test the hypothesis that locally producible spirulina platensis supplementation would achieve the following: 1) increase infant physical growth; 2) reduce morbidity; and 3) improve motor development. Design: We randomly assigned 501 Zambian infants into a control (CON) group or a spirulina (SP) group. Children in the CON group (n=250) received a soya-maize-based porridge for 12 months, whereas those in the SP group (n=251) received the same food but with the addition of spirulina. We assessed the change in infants’ anthropometric status, morbidity, and motor development over 12 months. Results: The baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. The attrition rate (47/501) was low. The physical growth of infants in the two groups was similar at 12 months of intervention, as measured by height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ). SP infants were less likely to suffer from cough by 11 percentage point (CI: -0.23, -0.00; P<0.05); SP infants were significantly more likely to be able to walk alone at 15 months (0.96±0.19) than were CON infants (0.92±0.28). Conclusion: Home-fortification of complementary foods using spirulina had positive effects on morbidity prevention and motor milestone acquisition.45 p

Post intervention morbidity and growth of infants who received Spirulina

Ethical reference number: IRB00001131 of IORG0000774In infants, micronutrient deficiency is known to be associated with growth faltering and morbidity. We recently reported that a 12-month intervention of home fortification of complementary foods using spirulina reduced upper respiratory infections but did not affect the linear growth of Zambian infants. The intervention, originally designed to run for 12 months, was extended by 4 months. This study aimed to evaluate whether a reduction in the morbidity seen with 12-month spirulina supplementation remained persistent after the 16-month intervention, and over the subsequent 1.5-year nonintervention period. The secondary objective was to evaluate if any differences in the growth indicator emerged long-term. We used longitudinal data from a randomized trial conducted in Luapula province, Zambia. A total of 501 infants aged 6-18 months were randomly given daily supplements of maize-soya based porridge with spirulina (SP) or without spirulina (CON). In 2016 and 2018, we collected information on the change in infants’ anthropometric status and morbidity (probable pneumonia, cough, probable malaria, and fever). The registration number of the initial clinical trial is NCT03523182 (Clinical Trial.gov). Children in the SP group were 13% less likely to contract an upper respiratory infection after the 16-month intervention. After the 18-month nonintervention period, children in the SP group were 14% (95% CI: 2%, 25%; P<0.05) and 23% (95% CI: 11%, 36%; P<0.01) less likely to contract severe and mild upper respiratory infections, respectively. We found no association between SP supplementation and linear growth and weight, as measured by height for age z score and weight for age z score. Home-fortification of complementary foods using spirulina during infancy is likely to have positive and lasting impacts on upper respiratory morbidity prevention.34, [1] p

Multiple micronutrient supplementation using spirulina platensis during the first 1000 days is positively associated with development in preschool-aged children: a follow up of a randomized trial in Zambia

Ethical reference number: IRB00001131 of IORG0000774Early childhood development relies on various micronutrients. We recently reported that home fortification of complementary foods using spirulina reduced the time to attain motor milestone in Zambian infants. The objective of this study is to estimate the long-term associations between spirulina supplementation during the first 1000 days and child gross motor development, fine motor development, language, and personal-social skill at preschool age. We used longitudinal data from a randomized trial conducted in Zambia. In 2015, 501 infants (age, 6–18 months) were provided daily supplements of maize-soy-based porridge with spirulina (SP) and without spirulina (CON). Supplementation period lasted for 16 months. In January 2018, children who participated in the initial trial were resurveyed (CON: 182 children; SP: 188 children; now aged 36–48 months). We assessed the infants’ gross motor development, fine motor development, language, and personal-social skill using a modified version of Malawi Development Assessment Tool. The initial clinical trial registration number was NCT03523182 (ClinicalTrial.gov). Children in the SP group had higher scores on gross and fine motor development, language, and social skill than those in the CON group. Home fortification of complementary foods using spirulina during the first 1000 days improved development among Zambian at preschool age28, [6] p

Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation Using <i>Spirulina platensis</i> during the First 1000 Days is Positively Associated with Development in Children under Five Years: A Follow up of A Randomized Trial in Zambia

Early childhood development relies on various micronutrients. We recently reported that home fortification of complementary foods using spirulina reduced the time to attain motor milestones in Zambian infants. The objective of this study is to estimate the long-term associations between spirulina supplementation during the first 1000 days and child gross motor development, fine motor development, language, and personal&#8211;social skills at preschool age. We used longitudinal data from a randomized trial conducted in Zambia. In 2015, 501 infants (age, 6&#8211;18 months) were provided daily supplements of maize-soy-based porridge with spirulina (SP) and without spirulina (CON). Supplementation period lasted for 16 months. In January 2018, children who participated in the initial trial were resurveyed (CON: 182 children; SP: 188 children; now aged 36&#8211;48 months). We assessed the infants&#8217; gross motor development, fine motor development, language, and personal&#8211;social skills using a modified version of Malawi Development Assessment Tool. The initial clinical trial registration number was NCT03523182. Children in the SP group had higher scores in gross and fine motor development, language, and social skills than those in the CON group. Home fortification of complementary foods using spirulina during the first 1000 days improved development among Zambian children at preschool age

Multiple micronutrient supplementation using spirulina platensis during the first 1000 days is positively associated with development in preschool-aged children: a follow up of a randomized trial in Zambia

Ethical reference number: IRB00001131 of IORG0000774Early childhood development relies on various micronutrients. We recently reported that home fortification of complementary foods using spirulina reduced the time to attain motor milestone in Zambian infants. The objective of this study is to estimate the long-term associations between spirulina supplementation during the first 1000 days and child gross motor development, fine motor development, language, and personal-social skill at preschool age. We used longitudinal data from a randomized trial conducted in Zambia. In 2015, 501 infants (age, 6–18 months) were provided daily supplements of maize-soy-based porridge with spirulina (SP) and without spirulina (CON). Supplementation period lasted for 16 months. In January 2018, children who participated in the initial trial were resurveyed (CON: 182 children; SP: 188 children; now aged 36–48 months). We assessed the infants’ gross motor development, fine motor development, language, and personal-social skill using a modified version of Malawi Development Assessment Tool. The initial clinical trial registration number was NCT03523182 (ClinicalTrial.gov). Children in the SP group had higher scores on gross and fine motor development, language, and social skill than those in the CON group. Home fortification of complementary foods using spirulina during the first 1000 days improved development among Zambian at preschool ag