WORKING FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN CWAR

By James Achanyi- Fontem, camlink99@gmail.com

The issue of AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT focused on agriculture landscape in sub-Saharan Africa, rural Community and development, local sourcing, benefits and challenges with the role of government, private sectors and civil society. These issues were well rooted in the presentation made by Dr. Dorothy A. Effa(PhD) who is the Director in charge of Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ghanaian Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Common characteristics of Agriculture Landscape in Sub Saharan Africa, Dorothy A. Effa(PhD) said, shows that agriculture employs more than half of the total labour force according to a report the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2012. Smallholder farms constitute approximately 80% of all farms in sub Saharan Africa and employ about 175 million people directly farming-less than 2 hectares according to AGRA report in 2014. AGRICULTURE and RURAL DEVELOPMENT is mostly rain fed with joint and extended family farms, while livestock remains a key asset for the poorest, particularly in arid and semi-arid settings. On agriculture contribution to GDP, it is on the average 15% of total GDP,3 % in Botswana and South Africa and more than 50% in Chad for example. It is noted that the high contribution of the agricultural sector to GDP underlines the limited diversification of most African economies. Agriculture production and productivity in Sub Saharan Africa remains significantly lower than the global average. Agricultural growth has been underpinned by area expansion and African governments have increased their investment in agriculture and are involving the private sector. With this, the structure of agriculture production in sub Saharan Africa has radically changed in the last two decades and traditional farming systems are inevitably changing from polycultures to monocultures as many technical and institutional factors drive these changes.

The Challenges of Agric. Production include low yields, inadequate market information, unavailability of inputs on a timely basis or in the quantity required. There is also the lack of credit, risk management and price formation mechanisms. Seasonality of agricultural input requirements, spatial dispersion of farmers, poor transport infrastructure from farm to the marketing, institutional capacity for research and extension is weak as the weak farmers’ associations. To face these challenges, the different countries have to positive agricultural policies within the current global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since the 2003 Maputo Declaration, less than 20% of the countries have achieved their commitment. The Malabo Declaration of 2014 came to accelerate agricultural growth with the pledged to end hunger in Africa by 2025. In order for the Central and West Africa sub regions to achieve the SDGs, agriculture and rural development must be prioritized. According to the UN definition, rural development is a process of change, by which the efforts of the people themselves are united, those of government authorities to improve their economic, social and cultural conditions of communities in to the life of the nation and to enable them to contribute fully to national programs are a reality. Rural development is a strategy designed to improve the economic and social life of rural poor and it is a process, which aims at improving the wellbeing and self-realization of people living outside the urbanized areas through collective process. This builds on infrastructures, public service and communication to improve on the health, education and living conditions of the population.in order to generate employment through farming, storage and economic activities. Scientifically, it is believed that local sourcing can reduce poverty and improve food safety and security, where companies are offering their suppliers long-term contracts, competitive prices, and access to information, as well as investing in improving the livelihoods of the poor in developing countries Outsourcing relationships need to consider the economic, environmental and social effects in order to be sustainable. Company/contractor agreements must be reviewed in order to ensure that social responsibility aspects are appropriately managed. and rural-urban migration on the ascendancy, local sourcing can be used as a way to address high unemployment rate as well as generate total economic growth.

Nestle sourced 70% of raw materials locally from the region in 2015 and has plans to increase. Sourcing of raw materials sh0uld comply with responsible Sourcing guideline (RSG) criteria, with traceability and transparency throughout the supply chains. The challenges facing the sub region however include inability to supply quantity and quality, build the capacity and invest in research. The national governments are called upon to put in place the public infrastructure necessary for the efficient operation of the private sector, enacting and enforcing rules and regulations that create safe and predictable environment for private investors, establishing a regulatory role in land tenure, ensuring through land registration and enforceable contracts that land ownership is secure, establishing viable financing opportunities for agricultural enterprises and good governance and transparent public administration, macroeconomic discipline and stability, and political stability. The national governments should provide favourable incentive framework which provides farmers and processors with good incentives to adopt new and sustainable technologies and diversify production into higher value crops. Through policy and institutional reforms that encourage and support private investments in agricultural value chains, the governments can support mechanisms and processes designed to create and strengthen farmer organizations, create mechanism for media engagement to ensure appropriate messaging and as a means of awareness creation and promotion of best practices. The role of private sector Investments should be to ensure superior service delivery to the end consumer with the objective of maximizing service at an affordable price. Financial institutions (FIs) should play a key role in the agri-business sector, primarily on the credit front due to the priority sector lending requirement. They should be an integral component of the agri-system and finance should be available at each and every stage of the value chain in order to make the agri-system sustainable The role of private sector investments should include promotion of grading, branding, packaging, as well as Investing in research and development strategies, investing in smallholder agriculture -models that maximize benefits to smallholder farmers. Civil Society Organisations (CSO) considered as non-state actors have four vital functions which include planning, implementation, reform and accountability. CSO planning provides ideas, evidence and expertise, thereby participating in dialogue/consultations to determine priorities. This can be done through advocacy at all levels starting from district assembly planning sessions and using community radio story design strategies. CSOs should be considered as service providers extending best practices , supporting training and advocacy They should be involved in accountability, holding all partners accountable and promoting mutual accountability by setting indicators. It is understood that CSO constituencies have legitimate and accountable representation and resources should made available to support their operations.

Civil society should be allowed to access to platforms for ensuring planning and accountability at all levels and also within their organisations, variable capacity of all actors and therefore the need to build capacity of members. It is expected that all CSOs evolve from the grass roots to regional and national levels. This would facilitate having an apex for all the organisations. They should build more synergies among themselves, be more proactive, engaging and impactful. The above issues have been recognized at the regional level, and it is for this reason that the non-state actors guide for CAADP implementation was developed. In conclusion, we can say there is urgent need to address the production gap and enhance the adaptive capacity of Africa's agricultural landscapes, considering the rapidly growing population and changing climate. We should guarding against the expansion and encroachment of farm land by protecting smallholders against the impacts of climate change, and improving regional trade for increased agricultural productivity, through enhancing infrastructure, technologies. Business skills uplifted will create an enabling environment in the CWAR. On the other hand, agricultural and rural development in developing countries must be founded on higher productivity of small-scale farmers. A more efficient access to land, water, technology, financial resources and other institutions that support poor farmers is fundamental. Improvement of transport and communication infrastructure, storage facilities, crop processing technologies and marketing solutions are needed to face the new market environment. It is important to have a clear understanding of where public investment needs to be made in support of the private sector in agriculture and agro-processing. The rural environment is continuously changing, the development mode of thinking. This is also changing rural development policies which need systematic adaptations. Since we all know the problems, this is the time to stop talking and act for achieving SDGs by 2030.

CWAR STAKEHOLDER CONVENING 2016 TOOK PLACE IN ACCRA, GHANA

By James Achanyi Fontem, Email: camlink99@gmail.com

The Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Central and West Africa Region, Kais MARZOUKI chaired a stakeholder convening in Accra, Ghana on the 25th November, 2016 with approximately 35 participants attending. The participants were from Gabon, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Benin and Ghana. The multi-national company brought together top level personalities from nutrition societies, nutrition and food safety, paediatrics association, dietetic associations, ministry of food and agriculture, lecturers of university, food and drug authority, GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition), Ministry of Education, Laboratory Analysts, Ministry of Trade, GIZ, Royal Netherland Embassy, FAO, Ministry of Economy and Investment Sustainability, OXFAM and Civil Society Organisations. Kais MARZOUKI told participants that his company has been aiming at creating shared value at all levels to improve on wellbeing of populations in the Central and West Africa region countries of their implantation. He added that their company operates on a policy guided and driven by purpose and shared values which enhance the quality of life of people and thereby contributing to a healthier future for all. For over 150 years, the company has been providing quality and safe nutrition through its over 2000 brands in 189 countries around the world. It has 436 companies implanted in85 countries. The regional head office in Accra, Ghana has existed since 1957. The recent meeting in Accra, Ghana was the second Stakeholders Convening in Central and West Africa. The head office is located in the vicinity of the Kotoka International Airport area and the working language is English. Nestle believes that for a company to be successful over the long term and create value for shareholders, it must create value for society. At company, this means creating superior, long-term value for shareholders by offering products and services that help people improve their nutrition, health and wellness.

To achieve this, Creating Shared Value (CSV) is the approach it is taking to the business as a whole. Besides nutrition, it is focusing on water and rural development, given their critical importance not only to business but also to the employees, farmers, suppliers, distributors and communities where they operate. CSV encourages business to create economic and social value simultaneously by focusing on the social issues that iy is uniquely capable of addressing. It builds on a strong base of performance in environmental sustainability and compliance, and recognizes the vital role of engaging and collaborating with other organisations.

In order to engage further in Creating Shared Value in the Central and West African region, Nestle decided to hold a second regional stakeholder convening in Accra, Ghana after the first held in Bonaberi=Douala, Cameroon. The purpose of this convening was to: Discuss and obtain feedback on its CWAR’s Creating Shared Value initiatives (progress made since previous convening) Understand stakeholder perceptions of CWAR’s performance on specific issues Stimulate fresh thinking / ideas on issues Understand opportunity and risk, both present and future, for particular issues Prioritise key actions on issues to take them into account in the company’s strategy. Invited stakeholders had expertise aligning with topics covered in Creating Shared Value strategy noted above, and an understanding of regional and/or local business environment. These stakeholders include, but were not limited to: Government organisations Non-governmental organisations International or multilateral organisations Academics and Industry associations It was hoped that participants saw the convening as an opportunity to engage constructively with Nestlé CWAR, and discuss key challenges, future direction and expectations while also identifying areas for developing and executing collaborative solutions. After accepting to participate in this stakeholder convening, participants were asked to complete a number of tasks prior to, during and after the event. Prior to the convening, external participants were asked to: oRead some background material relating to the business and Creating Shared Value oFill out a short online form to inform the convening’s content and logistics During the convening, participants were asked to: oProvide constructive yet candid feedback oEducate and openly challenge Nestlé oIdentify opportunities for improvement and potential collaboration After the convening, participants were asked to: •Provide any amendments to the meeting minutes for completeness and accuracy Expectations of the CWAR Convening by the participants were as follows: •Respond to any questions from stakeholders about content and logistics prior to the convening During the session, Nestlé was expected to: •Listen to and learn from feedback from stakeholders •Respond to concerns and recommendations After the session, the company: •Shared the main summary and the minutes of the meeting with stakeholders •Maintained open channels of communication with stakeholders Key discussion points, conclusions and outcomes were noted and circulated confidentially to all participants. Because Chatham House Rules1 were used during the convening, any content from the session were not attributed to the speakers. This report on the convening is expected to be used to inform further on Creating Shared Value strategy and communications. Themes handled by experts included: Nutrition education and meeting the SDG’s Developing rural communities (women empowerment / water & sanitation/ youth employment) Agriculture The Central and West Africa region is considered to have the fastest growing population expected to reach 441 Million by 2020. There is increased internet communication connectivity. Due to the fact that Nestle operates in a complex environment, cannot tackle issues alone, wants to be part of the solution it considers effective dialogue and collaboration as key for collaborative initiatives between private and public sectors, civil society, multilaterals and academia. Overall comments on 2014 feedback shows that in the area of Industrialization and investment strategy, there was increased use of locally sourced raw materials, support of landlocked countries and creation of more jobs opportunities. More effort in nutrition education and information tackled perception issues (salt, BMS) and help to build HCP knowledge in nutrition. In order to make progress, it all starts with listening to stakeholders, who make Constructive feedback, educate and challenge the company, give fresh and innovative thinking solutions through Identification of opportunities for improvement. During the shared value convening, Nestle listens and learns from the feedback before responding to r concerns and recommendations. It is expected to integrate key learning strategies into future action plans after identifying possible areas of collaboration.

CWAR STAKEHOLDER CONVENING 2016 HELD IN ACCRA, GHANA

By James Achanyi Fontem, Email: camlink99@gmail.com

The Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Central and West Africa Region, Kais MARZOUKI chaired a stakeholder convening in Accra, Ghana on the 25th November, 2016 with approximately 35 participants attending. The participants were from Gabon, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Benin and Ghana. The multi-national company brought together top level personalities from nutrition societies, nutrition and food safety, paediatrics association, dietetic associations, ministry of food and agriculture, lecturers of university, food and drug authority, GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition), Ministry of Education, Laboratory Analysts, Ministry of Trade, GIZ, Royal Netherland Embassy, FAO, Ministry of Economy and Investment Sustainability, OXFAM and Civil Society Organisations. Kais MARZOUKI told participants that his company has been aiming at creating shared value at all levels to improve on wellbeing of populations in the Central and West Africa region countries of their implantation. He added that their company operates on a policy guided and driven by purpose and shared values which enhance the quality of life of people and thereby contributing to a healthier future for all. For over 150 years, the company has been providing quality and safe nutrition through its over 2000 brands in 189 countries around the world. It has 436 companies implanted in85 countries. The regional head office in Accra, Ghana has existed since 1957. The recent meeting in Accra, Ghana was the second Stakeholders Convening in Central and West Africa. The head office is located in the vicinity of the Kotoka International Airport area and the working language is English. Nestle believes that for a company to be successful over the long term and create value for shareholders, it must create value for society. At company, this means creating superior, long-term value for shareholders by offering products and services that help people improve their nutrition, health and wellness. To achieve this, Creating Shared Value (CSV) is the approach it is taking to the business as a whole. Besides nutrition, it is focusing on water and rural development, given their critical importance not only to business but also to the employees, farmers, suppliers, distributors and communities where they operate. CSV encourages business to create economic and social value simultaneously by focusing on the social issues that iy is uniquely capable of addressing. It builds on a strong base of performance in environmental sustainability and compliance, and recognizes the vital role of engaging and collaborating with other organisations.

In order to engage further in Creating Shared Value in the Central and West African region, Nestle decided to hold a second regional stakeholder convening in Accra, Ghana after the first held in Bonaberi=Douala, Cameroon. The purpose of this convening was to:  Discuss and obtain feedback on its CWAR’s Creating Shared Value initiatives (progress made since previous convening)  Understand stakeholder perceptions of CWAR’s performance on specific issues  Stimulate fresh thinking / ideas on issues  Understand opportunity and risk, both present and future, for particular issues  Prioritise key actions on issues to take them into account in the company’s strategy. Invited stakeholders had expertise aligning with topics covered in Creating Shared Value strategy noted above, and an understanding of regional and/or local business environment. These stakeholders include, but were not limited to:  Government organisations  Non-governmental organisations  International or multilateral organisations  Academics and  Industry associations It was hoped that participants saw the convening as an opportunity to engage constructively with Nestlé CWAR, and discuss key challenges, future direction and expectations while also identifying areas for developing and executing collaborative solutions. After accepting to participate in this stakeholder convening, participants were asked to complete a number of tasks prior to, during and after the event. Prior to the convening, external participants were asked to: o Read some background material relating to the business and Creating Shared Value o Fill out a short online form to inform the convening’s content and logistics During the convening, participants were asked to: o Provide constructive yet candid feedback o Educate and openly challenge Nestlé o Identify opportunities for improvement and potential collaboration After the convening, participants were asked to: • Provide any amendments to the meeting minutes for completeness and accuracy Expectations of the CWAR Convening by the participants were as follows: • Respond to any questions from stakeholders about content and logistics prior to the convening During the session, Nestlé was expected to: • Listen to and learn from feedback from stakeholders • Respond to concerns and recommendations After the session, the company was expected to: • Share the main summary and the minutes of the meeting with stakeholders • Maintain open channels of communication with stakeholders Key discussion points, conclusions and outcomes were noted and circulated confidentially to all participants. Because Chatham House Rules1 were used during the convening, any content from the session were not attributed to the speakers. This report on the convening is expected to be used to inform further on Creating Shared Value strategy and communications. Themes handled by experts included:  Nutrition education and meeting the SDG’s  Developing rural communities (women empowerment / water & sanitation/ youth employment)  Agriculture The Central and West Africa region is considered to have the fastest growing population expected to reach 441 Million by 2020. There is increased internet communication connectivity. Due to the fact that Nestle operates in a complex environment, cannot tackle issues alone, wants to be part of the solution it considers effective dialogue and collaboration as key for collaborative initiatives between private and public sectors, civil society, multilaterals and academia. Overall comments on 2014 feedback shows that in the area of Industrialization and investment strategy, there was increased use of locally sourced raw materials, support of landlocked countries and creation of more jobs opportunities. More effort in nutrition education and information tackled perception issues (salt, BMS) and help to build HCP knowledge in nutrition. In order to make progress, it all starts with listening to stakeholders, who make Constructive feedback, educate and challenge the company, give fresh and innovative thinking solutions through Identification of opportunities for improvement. During the shared value convening, Nestle listens and learns from the feedback before responding to r concerns and recommendations. It is expected to integrate key learning strategies into future action plans after identifying possible areas of collaboration.

FAO CHIEF TECHNICAL ADVISOR FOR AFRICA SPEAKS ON SENSIBLE NUTRITION SYSTEM

By James Achanyi-fontem, camlink99@gmail.com

Chief Technical Advisor, Mawuli Sablah , spoke on Nutrition Mainstreaming in Africa during a shareholder value convening in Accra, Ghana on November 25, 2016 and attributed 45% of global deaths of infants to malnutrition of children in Africa. She said, global distribution of deaths among children less than 5 years of age caused in 2013 was due to diarrhoea (postnatal 9%), Pneumonia (neonatal 13%), Malaria 7%, Injuries 5%, Meningitis 2%, AIDS 2%, Measles 2% and other diseases 16%. She presented some forms of malnutrition in children including low-weight for height; argue malnutrition resulting to thinness of the child and chronic malnutrition resulting to stunting for age compared to normal growth. According to the FAO expert, the cycle of poverty starts from the first years of life. The first year launch the base of human capital. Feeding in the first 1000 days of a child is imperative for the development of the child’s apprenticeship for future gains. Socio-emotional competence predicts the success and productivity of the child and economic growth alone does not guarantee for eradication of chronic malnutrition of a child. Well-nourished children have well developed brains, while malnourished children have retarded growth. In Cameroon, 32.6 % of children below the age of 5 tears are stunted. The target of health projects around the world today is to eradicate malnutrition in all its forms. Mawuli Sablah informed participants at the sha4ed value convening that Africa countries face problems of malnutrition and need to invest intelligently to reverse the situation. To start with, the countries have to invest in production ingredients I their plantations, invest in transformation, storage, transport and the market chain.advertise and educate the populations on brands toencourage consumption of locally produced foods.

The challenges in the food chain focus on production, availability, access and use of the final products. Looking at this in detail, we realise that there is pressure on on natural resources, climate change, demograghic growth, rapid urbanisation and other factors influencing progress on human health and nutrition, exploitation fo natural resources, civil agitations and competition. All these problems made African countries not to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. As we enter the period of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), counties have to work to improve on issues related to stunting, wasting, over-weight, anemia, exclusive breastfeeding, adult over-weight, obesity and diabetes. Countries have to act on factors for the amelioration of nutritional values through education and health, improvement of food and farming systems, water and hygiene, encorgaing women’s autonomy and social protection which all surround nutrition. Initiatives and global engagements include reducing stunting to 10% and under-weight to 5% by 2025 according to the Malabo declaration. African leaders and decision makers have to change their ways of acting and invest more on nutrition. In conclusion, mutual contributions for improving on food and nutrition systems require financial resources, good governance, engagement, appropriation and leadership, multi-sectored involvement, research and exploitation of data results.

Cameroon Link Joins Madam Chantal Biya In “MY BET FOR 2030”

By Helen Ayamba, Email: camlink99@gmail.com

The Executive Director of Cameroon Link, James Achanyi-Fontem and the Administrative Assistant, Ms. Helen Ayamba, represented their Development and HumanitarianNGO during the three-day intense training organised by Synergies Africaines in Douala the economic capital of Cameroon to launch activities which will lead to eliminating HIV and AIDS by the year 2030. Synergies Africaines contre le SIDA et les souffrances is a PAN African Organisation of First Ladies led by Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya. Mrs. Chantal Biya, the Founder of Synergies Africaines is also UNESCO Ambassador of Good Will and Special Ambassdor of UNAIDS.

Representing the First Lady at the launching of the training in Douala, His Excellency, Governor of Littoral region, Samuel Ivaha Diboa, told participants that after thirty years since the discovery of the first case of AIDS, it is still a public health threat all over the world. Despite the efforts made here and there and despite downward trend, the pandemic persists, Governor Ivaha Diboa emphasized.

The Policy Declaration of the United Nations Organisation on HIV/AIDS is a clarion call to the international community, which pushes Synergies Africaines and Cameroon Link to get engaged in the struggle for eliminating HIV by 2030. The Secretary General of Synergies Africaines, Jean Stephane Biatcha, told participants and top level authorities at the training that the 2015 deadline that had initially been setfor the eradicstion of AIDS is passed and no country on our planet has achieved the set objective. This is why the United Nations Organisation set the new deadline to eliminate AIDS by the year 2030. In order to achieve this new objective, all means must be put in place to fast-track the response. It is within this context that the training was one of exchanging experiences and testimonies to guide the participants in view of building action plans and strategies that work within their different communities. The campaign dubbed “MY BET FOR 2030” was decided by Mrs. Chantal Biya, Founding President of AFRICAN SYNERGY to express her will to join UNAIDS initiative, which is to FAST-track to end HIV and eradicate the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The objectives of this new phase of activities are expected to: Ameliorate prevention of VIH Promote screening of HIV and other STI Create cells for caring for the HIV infected and affected with enterprises and communities. Focal Points have been trained and they now have to train community health relay agents across the country. “MY BET FOR 2030” initiative looks ambitious and promises to have durable impact within all communities in Cameroon. For a start, three cities of Cameroon were selected as the first targets and these are Douala in the Littoral Region, Bafoussam in the West Region and Bertoua in the East Region. The training in Douala brought together 125 Civil Society Leaders and the target is to train 300 in the three regions before the end of the first phase of Mrs. Chantal Biya’s action to fight against AIDS and eliminate suffering within African communities. Pr Joseph Pierre Fouda, Director of Yaoundé Central Hospital and an expert of Synergies Africaines made a presentation on the programme of “MY BET FOR 2030”, in which he said the initiative of Mrs. Chantal Biya, Special Ambassador of UNAIDS translates her will to render concrete the poliyical decision on HIV and AIDs prevention in Cameroon by accelerating the riposte of the epidemic by 2030 as endorsed during the conference organised in New York, USA in June 2016.

In effect, all stakeholders will have to accelerate sensitisation on screening for a better care of infected and affected persons through essential actions for meeting the international objective. Some indicators justify this decision, especially as the prevalence is 4.3% in Cameroon, but the screening rate remains low: 46% for women and 58% for men. There is also the weak knowledge on the means of prevention of HIV. Only 26% for women and 35% for men aged between 15 and 49 years have the knowledge and this has to be increased with multi-partnership which is more practical with only 29% for men and 6% for women. This can be improved with the vulgarisation of the actions of focal points through capacity building yraining on HIV and AIDS.

Adhesion to voluntary screening initiative needs to be accelerated, promotion of activities at the level of enterprises and facilitation of the 90-90-90 objective by 2020. The strategy put in place targets specific groups which include leaders of women’s associations, leaders of NGOs like Cameroon Link with activities that focus on HIV prevention and the promotion of wellbeing, focal points in municipal councils, and leaders of professional associations of young persons like bike riders, drivers, call-box operators, barbers and hair dressers with senior staff of enterprises. The outcome of this programme is expected to lead to the organisation of several mass sensitisation campaigns with the environment of focal points after the training in the first three regions. Thiswill see an increase in the number of persons who go for voluntary testing and return to receive their results.

Another key outcome would be to see at 10 enterprises in each of the regions engaged in the fight against HIV by putting in place structures for carrying out activities with their institutions. The trained focal points are expected to assist in orienting management and persons who are in need of assistance for HIV and AIDs care. It is understood that the participants of the training by Synergies Africaines now have the capacity in the areas of sensitisation, counselling and communication in matter related to HIV and AIDS. The participants also have the capacity of transmitting to their pairs the information and knowledge gathered during the training in Douala. The participants received all the necessary tools to organise activities on HIV prevention in their different areas of jurisdictions, especially as its concerns scouting for funds and materials to facilitate their work and orient persons in need of doing the HIV test and receiving their results. It is expected that the managers of companies and enterprises will put in place 50 more units in each region for management of activities related to HIV and AIDS. The outcomes would highlight impact in the enterprises for greater productivity and benefits. The take away message was that HIV and AIDS is like any chronic pathology. We should ameliorate the rate of persons who engage in doing their HIV test and orient any person in search of HIV and AIDs information and create HIV counselling cells within the communities.

Official Ceremony Videos Representative of Douala ity ouncil https://youtu.be/iJBt8ehghJA Oga animates training of Synergies fricaines in Douala https://youtu.be/Ia1dGn4wK8g Jean Stephane Biatcha addresses participants during HIV Prevention workshop in Douala https://youtu.be/iv-H6ZR6veg Jean Stephane Biatcha calls for involvement of women and youths in HIV prevention campaigns https://youtu.be/PbA_60rknP8 Governor Samuel Ivaha Diboa presides over ynergies Africaines IV prevention training in Douala https://youtu.be/HrTddidVFds Governor Samuel Ivaha Diboa invites all to join Mrs. Hantal Biya in her humanitarian mission https://youtu.be/jdicZDoY6m0 Suivez l'intégralité de la formation des leaders socioprofessionnels dans la lutte contre le Sida, qui s'est tenue à Douala du 27 au 29 septembre 2016. Jour 1 (Cérémonie de lancement et début des enseignements) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCCSgJTQZiA Jour 2 (Suite des enseignements) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fS47VNC4Ys Jour 3 (Fin des enseignements et remise des attestations) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx4L5HWM2Eo

7th GFRAS Annual Meeting Holds in Limbe, Cameroon

By James Achanyi-Fontem Email:camlink99@gmail.com

The Cameroon Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, H.E. Eyebe Ayissi, has said that it is in Limbe (Victoria) that the foundation stone to make Cameroon a bilingual country with English and French as official languages was implanted. Minister Eyebe ayissi was speaking at the official opening of the 7th GFRAS Annual Meeting in Limbe. During the meeting which held from the 3rd-6th October, 2016 the stakeholders from AFAAS, RESCAR-AOC, the Cameroon Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and World Agriforestry Centre shared experiences on the role of rural advisory services for inclusive agripreneurship. Minister Eyebe Ayissi extended the warm welcome of the Head of State, President Paul Biya to the visitor and the minister thanked the organisers for choosing Cameroon as host of the GFRAS meeting. He congratulated out-gone Executive Secretary of GFRAS and in-coming Executive Secretary, Kristin Davis and Karim Hussein for their achievements in the networking organisation. He recognised that the meeting held at a very difficult economic period when agriculture is relied on as a key development sector around the world. He added that the rural sector is key in offering employment for youths in Cameroon and this is why the government has opted for the promotion of agriculture of the second generation. The rural advisory services aim at innovating approaches for qualitative and qualitative production. The GFRAS Chair, Rasheed Sulaiman, told the audience that rural advisory services also known as extension services are fundamental to support rural people to face existing and emerging challenges and to improve their livelihoods. GFRAS was initiated in 2010 to provide advocacy and leadership on pluralistic and demand driven rural advisory services for sustainable development. Through fora like the one held in Limbe, Cameroon including networks representatives from regional, sub-regional and national levels and actors from all sectors involved in exchange of experiences and sharing ideas, change comes rapidly and is visible.

This explains why the annual meeting is the central instrument for GFRAS and its regional networks and national for a. Rasheed Sulaiman explained that the annual meeting in Limbe, Cameroon contributed to all of its strategic fields which include: 1.Advisory and support for an enabling policy environment and appropriate investment in rural advisory services. 2.Professionalization of rural advisory services 3.Facilitation and enhancement of effective and continuous knowledge generation and a functional component focused on network strengthening. The GFRAS Annual Meeting has both a thematic component focused on content and a functional component focused on network strengthening. Executive Secretary of RESCAR in the West and Central Africa regions, Patrice Djamen, at the opening told participants that his colleagues do not believe in meetings organised nowadays and described it as another tourism outfit, but Dr. Djamen replied that it is an international conference. Even with the response, his colleagues said it is the same thing. He added that partnerships are important tools for accelerating the development of populations in rural and urban settings. He reminded participants that the meeting in Limbe was to clarify the role to be played or played by each partner, especially as it held in a special context for the elimination of hunger and poverty alleviation and for the promotion of sustainable development. He went on to say that Cameroon is currently engaged in the policy of agriculture of the second generation which is more performant and sustainable. The Limbe international meeting was expected to come up with viable strategies for reinforcing the capacities of rural farmers and breeders. In this line, participants were invited to come up with possible win-win partnership opportunities which involve women and youths for deploying strategies of integration of rural populations in a way to render them more dynamic. In effect, Advisory services that work for smallholders and government in West and Central Africa regions is moving towards a shared vision. This report of RESCAR summarises nearly three years of action research on agricultural advisory services (AAS) up to 2015. A self-assessment of both farmer organisations and irrigation scheme managers confirmed their very different expectations. But each group recognised challenges, both for themselves and other actors. Farmer organisations recognised the need to: Increase accountability and transparency to and communication with members, and improve their internal governance systems in line with regionally agreed standards; Improve their capacity to play an effective role in demanding and using AAS from different sources; Increase their ability to enforce agreed rules and procedures (such as collection of irrigation fees, adherence with irrigation scheme regulation etc.; Pro-actively develop relationships with agricultural service providers rather than rely on the irrigation scheme managing agencies to do this for them at all times; and Increase the representation of women and youths. The irrigation systems managers recognised that: The AAS they provide is not meeting the needs of all the various types of farmers and has to be better targeted – both in terms of technical contents and advisory approach; Communication with Farmer Organisations is sporadic and ad-hoc, and needs to be more regular and effective; AAS provided by the scheme managers needs to be better integrated with national AAS strategies and policies (where these exist) and connect with AAS providers outside the irrigation scheme for mutual learning and effective support to farmers’ diverse livelihoods; and AAS needs to expand beyond advice on agricultural production to cover the whole value chain – starting with advice on agricultural credit and inputs, and providing advice throughout the production process, through to processing, storage and marketing. The government Delegate described Limbe as the Town of Friendship and he lauded the fact that his city was chosen to host the meeting in the Africa continent. Limbe is known for its rich tourism assets, though he admitted that the regular increase in population is making food to become expensive. The population is involved in subsistence agriculture and poverty is affecting farmers and fishermen. The city has good climate, rich soil and human capital that would benefit from the advisory services drawn for the international meeting. With the good advisory services, the rate of poverty will be reduced amongst farmers, thereby improving on their wellbeing. He invited the visitors to enjoy the city’s attractions during the day and at night with moderation.

Ceremony Video Links Introduction of 7th Annual GFRAS Meeting in Limbe, Cameroon https://youtu.be/3KMABCusS9U Government Delegate of Limbe City Concil welcomes 7th GFRAS Meeting https://youtu.be/nC_g7-fS-aU Patrice Djamen,Executive ecretary of ESCAR for est and Central Africa sub-region https://youtu.be/NnThb7BcJe0 GFRAS Chair, asheed ulaiman presents balance sheet and new executive secretary https://youtu.be/BEc-vlPqtWw Minister Henri yebe Ayissi opens 7th Annual GFRAS Meeting in Limbe,Cameroon https://youtu.be/eFioU1iOvOY

Doug Ward appointed member of the Order of Canada

By Kevin Perkins, FRI Executive Director

Today I had the honour of celebrating our friend and Farm Radio’s chair Doug Ward at the official ceremony for his appointment as a member of the Order of Canada. His appointment is fitting recognition for his lifelong contribution to using radio broadcasting to build a better world. Doug always had a penchant for improving people’s lives. From organizing student marches in the '60s to empowering northern indigenous communities to create radio programming in their own languages — it’s never been about Doug, but always about helping as many people as possible. As I’m sure you have heard Doug say, that’s why he loves radio so much — the reach and impact are virtually boundless. Now retired from the CBC, Doug is as active as ever in public service radio, helping to build Farm Radio International to what it is is today: a voice for rural communities in Africa, serving over 20 million people with life-changing communication services. To say that Doug is a dream board chair is a tremendous understatement. Doug is involved in so many aspects of our work, yet always the last one to take the credit for a project well done. He continues to write broadcaster training materials daily. He personally calls and knows most of our supporters. He comes up with new ideas and new ways to improve radio services for African farmers. And he employs his impressive skills as our chairperson, running board affairs smoothly and productively. He often starts working at 4:30 in the morning so he can connect with our African offices to learn more about the needs of the broadcasters and farmers we serve. For his service here in Canada and abroad, please join me in saying congratulations to Doug on his appointment to the Order of Canada — we can’t think of someone who deserves it more. Click here to send your congratulatory note to Doug now. With thanks, Kevin Perkins Executive Director, Farm Radio International

Carole Leuwe Receives FRI George Atkins Communication Award 2016

By Helen Ayamba, camlink@cameroonlink.org

The Focal Point of Farm Radio International Cameroon, James Achanyi-Fontem, who doubles as the Executive tor of CameroonLink presided over the official handing over of The George Atkins Communication Award 2016 ceremony at Nostalgie FM Radio located in Akwa-Douala, economic capital on Tuesday, 13th September. In his address to the audience at the ceremony, Mr. Achanyi-Fontem presented a brief history of Farm Radio International, the George Atkins Communication Award and the 2016 winners. He said. it was a privilege and honour for him to preside over the Farm Radio International George Atkins Communication Award Ceremony in Cameroon and that it was important to realize Cameroon was honoured as well as Cameroon Link, Nostalgie FM Radio and the winner, Carole Leuwe. He added that a few weeks ago, Mrs.Blythe McKay, .the Director of Broadcaster Resources at Farm Radio international Canada was delighted to announce this year's George Atkins Communications Award winners , who are: 1.Carole Leuwe of Radio Nostalgie in Douala, Cameroon 2.Gideon Sarkodie, of ADARS FM in Ghana and 3.Sarah Adongo of Mega FM in Uganda The other nominees, according to the director, were recognized by FRI as runners-up for the award and all received certificates. The runners-up are: 1.Privat Tiburce Martin Massanga of Radio MUCODEC in Congo 2.Soumaïla Gado of Radio Dar Es Salam in Nigeria 3.Winnie Onyimbo of Trans World Radio in Kenya It should be noed that the winners were selected based on their performances by FRI staff and board members voting. Each winner received a cash prize equivalent to CAD $ 500.00 and the country offices in Cameroon, Ghana and Uganda were authorized to organize small celebration/award ceremonies to recognize the winners in their respective countries. The in-country celebrations are to be posted on farm radio website along side with short descriptions of the winners. Carole Leuwe was congratulated with the other winners and runners-up for demonstrating their passion and commitment to developing high quality radio programmes for their farming audiences! Farm Radio International established by a Canadian broadcaster, Dr. George Atkins, in 1979, started as Developing Countries Farm Radio Network before becoming Farm Radio International (FRI). It is the only organization in the world focused exclusively on serving African farming families and communities over the radio. It has three main areas of work: 1. Distribution of RADIO RESOURCES: It sends broadcasters research resources on farming issues, sample scripts, and farming news by African writers, and provides training to help broadcasters create high-quality, farmer-centred programmes. It currently serves more than 640 radio partners across 39 sub-Saharan countries. 2. FRI promotes RADIO FOR RESULTS: Its impact projects are designed to tackle specific agricultural, health, and social challenges, such as soil erosion, marketing produce, nutrition, and gender inequalities. It has major projects in Tanzania which Carole Leuwe had the opportunity to visit, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, and Niger. 3.FRI promotes RADIO INNOVATIONS Combined with newer technologies, which makes radio become a two-way interactive communications tool.This innovation leads to finding new ways to enhance the power, and reach of radio is the focus of its team. Cameroon Link has been Focal Point of Farm Radio International in Cameroon since it won the George Atkins Communication Award in 1996. Since then, it has received materials from Farm Radio International and distributed to over 100 registered broadcasting partners in all ten regions of the country. There are 36 English Speaking community radio stations and 44 French Speaking Community radio stations inmeroon that receive Farm Radio International materials to facilitate farmers’ story design programming and script adaptation during broadcasts. Carole Ngueyep Leuwe was born on the16th March 1979. She has a first degree in journalism and worked at Nostalgie FM Akwa-Doual, Cameroun for ten years. She is not married but is mother of two children. Her fields of competence are radio communication and farmer-interactive involvement in programme design , production, news coverage and broadcasting. She is bilingual and serves as translator in English and French languages. She is a defender of the rights of handicapped persons and promotes gender equality. She started her broadcasting career in 1995 and has climbed up to the position of Editor-in-Chief at Nostalgie FM Radio since 2012.. Carole is computer literate and has good knowledge of conference moderation, human rights, and cooking. Her hobbies are travelling, meeting people, cooking, singing, dancing, photography, footing and reading of newspapers.. Carole Leuwe’s Impressions after the award

Pour ceux qui me connaissent ils seront surpris de me découvrir dans ce domaine.....En effet je ne couvre pas que la culture et la santé......mon troisième sujet et le plus remarquable c'est l'agriculture. Merci à Mathias Mouendé Ngamo qui suit mon évolution. Merci à Farm Radio International qui décerne ce prix , merci à James Achanyi-Fontem Blythe McKay #GeorgeAtkinsCommunicationAwards2016 #Cameroon #Agri237 coming soon #96fm #LoveMyjob Some congratulatory messages received

Mathias Mouendé Ngamo: La terre ne ment pas. La terre nourrit le monde. Alors nous devons tous contribuer à l'amélioration des conditions de vie des agriculteurs. Tous, chacun dans son secteur d'activité. Soyons tous des agri-citoyens. Bravo à toi Carole Leuwé Quand les jeunes et les journalistes s'intéressent à l'agriculture, ça donne ceci... Lionel Ligick REVERENCE: Lgr et comme tu aimes le titre autant que l'auteur, c'est l'occasion aussi de te décerner heuh non plutôt, te dédicacer (et pourquoi même pas faire les deux!), ce tube de Mister Richard Bona Alexis Nwafo: Bravo ma soeur chérie voilà toute la famille gratifié et au podium grâce a toi a tes efforts merci de tout coeur que le Seigneur te guide et te donne encore plus de force Edwige Noel: tu as beaucoup d'énergie la mère de nathan Inoussa Maïga: Felicitations et bon courage pour la suite King Foguito: Congratulations sister you deserve it Richard Eboa: Hum... Toi avec les prix ces temps ci, Dieu seul sait. Carole Xtiane Bille: Je suis ta voisine j'attends la célébration ooooo Alexis Nwafo: Bravo ma soeur chérie voilà toute la famille gratifié et au podium grâce a toi a tes efforts merci de tout coeur que le Seigneur te guide et te donne encore plus de force Rose Bika: Tu es une bosseuse c'est ce que je sais Inoussa Maïga: Felicitations et bon courage pour la suite King Foguito: Congratulations sister you deserve it Michel Mombio: Congratulations! Seul le travail paie ! Ndja Maàveun Yomi Elise: Mes felicitations ma fille cherie Carole Leuwé muammmm tu es adorable Dbg Manka'a: Great!!! Keep it up. #Girlpower Tatiana Dirane: OUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Tu es une bosseuse c'est ce que je sais Solange Petjin: Tu mérites Arlette Mafopi L'étoile: Papa Paul doit etre fier de toi, hein! Je me souviens qu’il nous a tous recommande d’entrer au champ Handing over of George Atkin Award 2016 in Cameroon https://youtu.be/6qhOAPGNcXI Carole Leuwe’s Impressions after the FRI Award in English https://youtu.be/V7jj_4g9igU Carole Leuwe’s Impressions after the FRI Award in French https://youtu.be/X97HrbH2KZU Interview with Carole Leuwe onFRI George Atkins Award 2016 http://www.spreaker.com/user/8661689/interview-with-carole-leuwe-onfri-george George Atkins Communication Award Ceremony in Cameroon http://www.spreaker.com/user/8661689/george-atkins-communication-award-ceremo

How to Use Watermelon As a Medicine

By Jenny Hills Food & Nutrition

Watermelon is one of the fruits most associated with summer, but next to the delicious sweet taste that we all know, it also contains medicinal properties: lowering blood pressure, treating edema, skin fungus and more. Watermelon contains considerable amount of beta-carotene, vitamin B, vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iodine and manganese. It contains only 29 calories per 100 grams, which is another good reason to eat watermelon. How to use watermelon as a medicine? There are a lot of reasons to eat watermelon: watermelon seeds expand the blood vessels, lower blood pressure and improve kidney function. For kidney cleansing it is recommended to do a watermelon fast for a whole day. Cut small cubes of watermelon and eat several pieces every fifteen minutes. Fasting is beneficial to those suffering from stones and kidney infections and urinary tract. Watermelon is a good diuretic and therefore good for edemas. Watermelon is also beneficial for constipation as it is a mild laxative. Kidney cleansing: watermelon fasting for a day. Watermelon is a natural diuretic while ridding the body of excess fluids. There are many ways to enjoy the benefits from watermelon. Simply slice or juice your watermelon and consume it whenever you are hungry. Kidney infection: the same. A kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that occurs when bacteria enters your kidneys. After you receive a medial treatment for it, a healthy diet can help you to recover and help protect your body from developing further infections. Drink lots of fluids including fruits and vegetables with a high water content such as watermelon, cucumber and apple. Kidney stones: make watermelon seed tea by pouring a pint of boiling water over a tablespoonful of watermelon seeds (ground or cut) and allow it to steep. Let it cool, then strain and drink three glasses per day. For more information on how to treat kidney stones naturally click here. Liver cleansing: drink 3 cups daily watermelon juice. A watermelon cleanse helps the liver to process ammonia, a waste from protein digestion, and convert it into a molecule known as urea, a component of urine that is safely excreted from the body. To learn more about detox concept, you can find more useful information in my e-book The Detox Guide. This guide will teach you how to use detox to cleanse and energize your body naturally and safely. Colon cleansing – A common problem amongst people with colon issues is dehydration. Incorporating more liquids into your daily routine is key in achieving a cleaner colon and more proper digestion. It lubricates the digested food and provides it with the right hydration to break it down. Water, fruit juices and eating fruits and vegetables high in water content, like watermelon, will help. You can find here more food to cleanse your colon. Constipation: Eat a slice of watermelon to help restore the colon and intestines. It’s all about high water content and fiber, and within a short time the body seems to go into the elimination process moving the waste out. Don’t consume too much watermelon otherwise it can cause diarrhea. Read more about natural remedies for constipation here. Skin fungi: rub the watermelon rind on the skin several times a day. Apparently the rind contains anti-fungal properties. Skin pimples: the same. Rub watermelon rind directly onto your affected area and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing off. By rubbing a watermelon rind on your face you are releasing the nutrients directly onto your skin and cleaning up bacteria-prone areas. To read more about natural homemade skin treatment to stop breakouts click here. Edema: Drink 3 cups watermelon juice a day (watermelon has diuretic properties). High blood pressure and problems in the arteries: A small study by Florida State University published in the American Journal of Hypertension, found that watermelon is loaded with an amino acid called L-citrulline which helps improve circulation, relaxes arteries and lowers people’s systolic blood pressure by as much as nine points. You can also find here more information on how to reduce blood pressure naturally. Gout: Watermelon is an especially alkaline fruit with high water content, which are important factors in dissolving and flushing out the sharp uric crystals that cause gout pain. Click here for more information on how to treat gout naturally. Diabetes: According to Livestrong website, If you have diabetes, you are encouraged to eat watermelon as part of a healthy diet. Although watermelon has few carbohydrates and natural sugar per serving, it is also low in calories and loaded with nutrients. Just make sure that you follow the guidance of your health care provider. To read about 12 more excellent foods to control diabetes click here. Heartburn: eHow website recommends to eat 4 to 6 chunks of watermelon slowly and to repeat throughout the day. The quantity and how often you eat them will depend on how much discomfort you have.

11 Healthy Reasons to Eat Avocado and What to Do With the Pit

By Jenny Hills Food & Nutrition

I just love it when I can eat food that not only tastes delicious, but is also nutritious and healthy. That’s how I would describe avocado. It is a superfood, but unlike some other superfoods that are hard to consume unless disguised as something else, avocado is yummy and can be prepared in so many different ways. For a long time many people counted calories indiscriminately and feared fats, so they avoided this wonderful fatty fruit. But now the verdict is out – the fats avocado contains are healthy for you, and calorie counting is overrated. So it’s official: I can eat avocados to my heart’s content. Here are some good reasons why: 1. Avocados are rich in carotenoids and also help their absorption from other fruits and vegetables Carotenoids are natural plant pigments. They are very powerful antioxidants and some types can be turned into vitamin A, which is essential for the health of your eyes. Carotenoids are soluble in fat, so they need a fatty environment to be absorbed. If you eat a fat-rich avocado together with other fruits and vegetables that contain carotenoids, the body will be able to use these antioxidant better. Adding a few slices of avocado to your salad should do the trick. You can learn more about antioxidants in my previous article about 9 amazing antioxidants for great health. 2. Avocados make you feel full and help you lose weight This fact might come as a bit of a surprise, considering the fruit’s caloric value (half a medium-sized avocado contains 138 calories). However, because avocado makes you feel full, you actually tend to eat less. Also, avocado contains oleic acid, which activates part of the brain responsible for feeling full. What’s more, recent research shows that eating healthy unsaturated fats can help with your dieting efforts. You can also find here the best foods that help fight belly fat. 3. Avocados are good for the heart and reduce the risk of heart attack Since avocados are an excellent source of healthy fats, they boost your good cholesterol levels – the high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol. For HDL, higher numbers are always welcomed. HDL prevents heart disease and stroke. So if you have a family history of heart attack, make sure that you stock some avocados in your kitchen. 4. Avocados lower your bad cholesterol levels Just as avocados increase HDL or ‘good cholesterol’, they reduce LDL or ‘bad cholesterol’. The oleic acid helps reduce your overall cholesterol levels, and particularly the damaging LDL cholesterol, which is blamed for cardiovascular disease. If you are battling with high cholesterol levels, avocado might be your perfect savior. Find here more simple and effective ways to reduce cholesterol. 5. Avocados are high in folate and reduce the risk of birth defects This one is particularly interesting for pregnant women, who need to take folic acid supplements during their pregnancy. It turns out avocado is very rich in folate – a vitamin which prevents birth defects. One cup of avocado contains a quarter of your daily recommended intake. Folic acid is important for the health of your cells, as it prevents cell changes that could lead to cancer, so everyone should consume enough of it. 6. Not many chemicals can touch avocados so they are safe to eat If you’re worried about the pesticides in your food, you’ll be happy to hear that due to their thick skin, avocados are very resistant to pesticide contamination. Also, bugs don’t attack them so much, so fewer pesticides are used in the first place. And indeed avocados were on the top of the list of fruits and veggies with the least pesticides for 2014. So who said that having thick skin is a bad thing? 7. Avocados have anti-cancerous properties Avocados contain plenty of phytonutrients. These increase the amount of antioxidants in your body which fight free radicals, which have the potential to cause damage to cells, including damage that may lead to cancer. Avocados may inhibit oral cancer and prostate cancer, as well as some other malignant diseases. Find here more foods that protect against cancer development. 8. Avocados are a good source of essential vitamins and minerals Did you know that avocados contain more potassium than bananas? They are also rich in vitamin K, vitamin B5 and vitamin B6. They hide a substantial amount of vitamin C inside their rich meat. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and it’s important for the upkeep of your immune system. 9. Avocados are rich in dietary fibers Consuming enough fibers is essential for your gut and overall health. With avocado, constipation can become a worry of the past. Dietary fibers also help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The good news is that one avocado contains almost half of your daily recommended intake of fiber. 10. Avocados improve brain function and might help prevent dementia I saved my favorite avocado healthiness for the end. Who would think that eating guacamole can improve your brain function? Well, according to research, avocados are up there with blueberries in promoting brain health. They contribute to healthy blood flow and reduce blood pressure, so your brain gets nourished without any interruptions. High blood pressure is often associates with cognitive decline, so keeping it within normal values will keep your little grey cells in optimal shape for old age. You can find here more ways to improve your brain function naturally. 11. Avocados have anti inflammatory properties Avocado helps to prevent inflammation in the body, especially problems involving arthritis, due to several factors. It contains phytosterols that are a major portion of avocado fats. These phytosterols are important supporters of our inflammatory system that help keep inflammation under control. Also its high content of carotenoids, as well as other nutrients, is a key factor in the anti-inflammatory properties of this fruit. Find here more foods to reduce inflammation in your body. Eating avocado and using the seed is also one of the 70 habits featured in my e-book 70 Powerful Habits For A Great Health which will guide you how to take positive steps to improve your wellness and overall health. How to eat avocado pits for nutrition You might be as tempted as I am now to live on avocados only, but remember that no extreme is good for you. A half to one avocado should be your daily dose. And if you were thinking of discarding its hard pit after eating your delicious treat, think again. Avocado seeds not only grow into beautiful plants, they can also be used in your kitchen and are increasingly recognized for their healing potential. Some indigenous cultures have been using avocado seeds for medicinal purposes for centuries, especially as a digestive remedy to cure diarrhea and dysentery. Add the whole pit to you other smoothie ingredients and use a super strong and heavy duty food processor such as Vitamix. The seeds contain flavonols that give them anti-cancerous properties. They are also rich in antioxidants, soluble fiber and potassium. If you want to focus on its potassium value, go for the immature fruits – as the fruit ripens, the levels of potassium decline. So enjoy your next avocado-enriched meal – it’s a healthy pleasure worth indulging in! Avocado is also one of the superfoods mentioned in my e-book about superfoods which is part of the Natural Health Revolution Program. This program will help you to achieve your health, nutrition and weight loss goals.

7 Health Issues That Bananas Can Solve

By Jenny Hills Food & Nutrition, Health

Banana is one of my favorite fruits, and I don’t need to be convinced why I should eat them, but for all the others there are 7 good reasons why you should eat this healthy fruit and you only need to eat as little as two bananas a day to maximize their health benefits. Health Benefits of Bananas: 1. Banana is the best sources of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure, heart health and bone strength. One banana contains 450 mg of potassium, four times higher than cereal, bread and more. Eating two bananas a day will contribute to the prevention of hypertension, atherosclerosis and building our bones. Bananas also reduce the risk of stroke. 2. Bananas are low in sodium, and contain one mg per unit. Much of our daily diet sources, such as cereals, crackers and bread contain hundreds of milligrams of sodium. Reduction in sodium consumption is important in preventing high blood pressure, heart disease and blood vessels and loss of calcium from the bones. 3. Bananas contain prebiotic fiber that contributes to the digestive system. This helps to prevent diarrhea resulting from infection in the intestine, strengthen the immune system, protects against colon cancer and more. Prebiotic fibers also contribute to increased mineral absorption from the intestine, reducing cholesterol absorption and balance sugar levels. 4. A Swedish study showed that whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, help protect against kidney cancer. It was found that women who consumed more vegetables and fruits, decreased their risk of the disease, and those who consumed four to six bananas per week reduced the risk of kidney cancer by about half. 5. Bananas contain substances that help operate the cells that make up the lining of the stomach, and thus they form the protective mucous barrier against acidity. Other compounds in bananas called protease inhibitors, help destroy bacteria that causes stomach ulcers. 6. The high potassium content of bananas helps improve the health condition after consuming much alcohol, and helps prevent the feeling of a hangover. 7. Banana contains tryptophan, an amino acid that makes serotonin, an active ingredient in the nervous system. Among other functions, it regulates sleep and appetite and aids in creating a sense of relaxation. Therefore it is recommended to eat banana with the slight appearance of hunger during the day. Read also my article about the best foods to get better sleep. Eating a banana a day is also one of the 70 habits featured in my e-book 70 Powerful Habits For A Great Health which will guide you how to take positive steps to improve your wellness and overall health.

10 Amazing Reasons to Eat Papaya and What to Do with the Seeds

By Jenny Hills Food & Nutrition

Papaya is a special fruit – loved by some, an acquired taste for others. The lucky ones can pick it from their gardens, but the majority will probably need to venture to a supermarket to get one. We live in the age when the first thing we need to check is the origin of the food we’re about to buy. Sad but true. Papayas are naturally very healthy, but the goodness is somewhat diminished when we buy from an unsustainable source. It’s even worse if we go for the genetically modified fruits, which have had their genetic-code changed in order to resist viruses and increase production numbers. Genetically modified papayas have been approved for consumption both in the USA and Canada, while Europe is still resisting. If you want to avoid a snack full of potentially harmful substances, pay attention to the fruit’s label. Most genetically modified papayas come from Hawaii, where they have been grown since 1999. When you get hold of a good-old-non-GMO papaya, these are the benefits you can look forward to: 1. Papaya is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B complex, and is rich in magnesium, copper and potassium. Vitamin A and vitamin C are both powerful antioxidants, so the ‘fruit of the angels’, as Christopher Columbus called it, destroys free radicals in the body – the villains behind many chronic diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. You can read more about antioxidants and their role in our body in my previous article about these 9 amazing antioxidants for great health. 2. Papaya lowers your cholesterol levels. It inhibits the harmful LDL cholesterol and prevents it from sticking onto the walls of blood vessels and causing problems in the circulation that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you suffer from high cholesterol levels, you can find here 10 simple and effective ways to lower cholesterol naturally. 3. Papaya is rich in fiber and promotes digestive health. To keep your bowels happy and moving, your diet should be rich in dietary fiber. Papaya has loads, and one serving can satisfy a quarter of your daily recommended intake. Increasing your fiber intake is also one of the 70 habits featured in my e-book 70 Powerful Habits For A Great Health which will guide you how to take positive steps to improve your wellness and overall health. Also, if you just underwent antibiotic treatment, make sure to eat some papaya, or drink papaya juice. The fruit does a good job at re-balancing your intestinal flora after an aggressive course of antibiotics. Papaya is one of the ingredients in this delicious digestive detox smoothie as the digestive enzyme papain helps to ease the burden of the complicated process of digestion. 4. Papaya contains unique enzymes that can lower inflammation. Chymopapin and papain are papaya’s protein-digesting enzymes that can help lower the body’s inflammatory reaction. Since rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease that presents as an inflammation of the joints, eating papaya can assist with symptom control. Also, eating vitamin C rich papaya can reduce your chances of developing arthritis in the first place. You can find here more foods that help to reduce inflammation in the body. 5. Papaya boosts your immune system. Vitamin A and vitamin C, which both generously occur in papaya flesh, strengthen your immune system and help fight infections. You can also learn about other 10 quick life hacks to improve your immunity. 6. Papaya has anti-cancer activity. The antioxidants in papaya are praised for effectively fighting cancer. Papaya reduces a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer, especially if combined with drinking green tea. It might also prevent cancer in your blood and bone marrow, by stopping the cells from oxidizing. The wonderful papaya enzyme, papain, can help relief side effects of chemotherapy. It is being studied for its beneficial effects on swallowing and mouth sores. This fruit has been shown to be a good protective measurement against colon cancer. With a little help from papaya, colon cells don’t suffer DNA damage that could lead to new, potentially dangerous, growths. I recommend you to read my other posts about this subject: The best cooking methods for cancer prevention and the top 5 cancer causing foods to avoid. 7. Papaya can protect your eyesight. Beta carotene and vitamin A help to protect sight and can improve vision. A study published in Archives of Ophthalmology has pointed out that eating fruit can do a lot to prevent age-related macular degeneration. Three helpings of fruit a day are recommended, and papaya is a very suitable candidate due to its nutritional content. You can get more information in my post about the top 9 secrets to prevent eyesight problems and improve your vision naturally. 8. Papaya helps to prevent blood clots. Blood clots can narrow or block blood vessels, or sometimes they can dislodge and travel to the heart or brain and cause a heart attack or stroke. Papaya contains fibrin, which prevents blood coagulation and enables the blood to flow freely. So make sure to put a slice of papaya in your morning cereal or in your breakfast shake. Of course, to prevent blood clotting, you will need to remove other risk factors from your life too, starting with smoking. You can also eat turmeric every day to prevent blood clots – read more about it here. There are also a number of herbs that can improve your blood circulation and you can find more information about them in my e-book The Herbal Remedies Guide. 9. Eating papaya reduces your stress levels. A papaya snack not only fills your stomach, but it can also make you feel more relaxed. Vitamin C regulates the flow of stress hormones and can bring you back to your balanced zen-state. Well, it might take a bit more than just a slice of papaya for that, but it’s a good start. If you want to reduce your stress, read my post about 14 effective natural remedies for stress and anxiety. 10. It is good for your skin. Have you noticed that papaya often features in cosmetic products,such as creams, face masks and hair softeners? It is renowned for its beauty benefits. Papaya’s vitamin E and beta carotene prevent cell damage through their antioxidant activity. Vitamin E also supports collagen production, which is the substance that keeps your skin firm and elastic, in other words young-looking. Beta carotene further smoothies away the wrinkles and makes you look fresh. Try a face mask and expose your skin to the magic ingredients. Essential oils can also be used for maintaining healthy skin and for treating certain skin conditions. You can find more information in my e-book Magical Aromatherapy which will help you to discover the most effective ways to use essential oils to unlock their amazing healing power. The benefits of papaya seeds and how to use them When you cut a papaya, the insides look very inviting, and the seeds can easily be scooped out. They are high in fat and protein, and contain plenty of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Think twice before you discard them, as they can be used in many ways. According to Maryland Medical Center and Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical medicine, papaya seeds are great for getting rid of intestinal parasites. A recent study showed that people who were taking honey together with papaya seeds, cleared their stool of parasites in 23 out of 30 cases. Papaya seeds are also credited with anti-cancerous properties. The seeds have a distinct, slightly peppery flavor. They can be eaten as they are, or you can sprinkle them over salads and other dishes, just as you would use pumpkin seeds. Those who are not afraid of the spicy flavor, can try them in a smoothie.

Most Amazing Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

By Jenny Hills Food & Nutrition

Dragon fruit is an exotic fruit which is also known as cactus fruit or pitaya. If its exotic-sounding name wasn’t enough to grab your interest, the health benefits of dragon fruit are sure to get your attention. Dragon fruit can boost your immune system, improve digestion, control blood sugar levels and may even prevent cancer and diabetes. It has high nutritional value and it is a good source of antioxidants and many vitamins which are needed to keep your body in top health. Dragon fruit offers a delicious addition to a healthy diet. What Is Dragon Fruit? Dragon fruit first originated in South and Central Americas and it is now found throughout Asia and Oceania. The fruit is fist-sized with red skin and green scales that give dragon fruit its fitting name. The most common variety has white flesh with black crunchy seeds. Less common types have red flesh and skin as well as yellow skin with white flesh. But despite its odd appearance, dragon fruit is a mildly sweet fruit. It has a taste and mouth feel of something like a cross between a pear and a kiwifruit. Both the seeds and the pulp have high nutritional value and some people even consider dragon fruit to be a tropical superfood. The seeds of dragon fruit contain high levels of polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids). The flesh contains fiber, carbohydrates and high level of vitamin C (equivalent to 15 percent of the daily recommended value) which can boost your immune system. It also contains some B complex vitamins (B1, B2, and B3) along with the minerals calcium, phosphorus and iron. The antioxidant lycopene present in dragon fruit is known to help prevent certain types of cancer. Let’s look at the many health benefits of dragon fruit. Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit Digestive Health Dragon fruit provides a good source of dietary fiber, which means that it can improve your bowl movements, prevent constipation and improve the general health of your digestive system.1 In addition to supporting good bowel health, a diet rich in dietary fiber can provide other health benefits. The soluble fiber that dragon fruit supplies can help you maintain stable blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar. It can also lower your cholesterol by reducing levels of the so-called bad cholesterol or LDL. Because fiber tends to fill you up, you may find that you’re eating less too, so dragon fruit can also help you maintain a healthy weight. Blood Sugar Control Dragon fruit is one of the best foods for diabetes because of its low glycemic index (GI).2 In addition, it may even reduce your risk of developing diabetes. At 14 g per serving, dragon fruit has a low carbohydrate content which makes it a tasty addition to low-carb diets. In a study done with mice, researchers found that dragon fruit juice reduced insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes.3 Insulin resistance occurs when your body doesn’t respond to insulin properly. This can lead to higher levels of blood sugar or glucose and it is an early sign of pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. It is also one of a group of risk factors called metabolic syndrome that can increase your risk for other conditions such as heart disease. Cardiovascular Health Dragon fruit can significantly reduce heart disease risk due to its flavonoid content. Flavonoids are naturally-occurring chemicals in plants. A review of studies looking on flavonoids found that eating foods, like dragon fruit, which are rich in these chemicals, significantly reduced heart disease risk.4 Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Dragon fruit can support good cardiovascular health in other ways as well. Another study examined the effects of feeding dragon fruit pulp to diabetic rats. Researchers found that the rats showed improvements in blood vessel flexibility after five weeks of treatment.6 As you age, your blood vessels become stiff. So these findings suggest that a diet that includes dragon fruit may help keep your cardiovascular system healthy. Cholesterol Control Dragon fruit can help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels due to its betalain content. Betalains are pigments that give dragon fruit its color and also offer exciting health benefits. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that eating foods containing betalains, like dragon fruit, could keep LDL or bad cholesterol levels from increasing.7 Dr. Suzanne R. Steinbaum on WebMD says that high LDL levels increase your risk of heart disease.8 When LDL levels are high, plaque builds up on the inside of blood vessels. Then, high amounts of plaque can cause serious and sometimes fatal blood clots. Cancer Prevention Dragon fruit is a rich source of antioxidants and anti cancerous nutrients which can help to prevent cancer. Much research has focused on antioxidants and their role in cancer prevention and treatment. The concern lies with free radicals and their effects on the body. Free radicals occur as by-products during normal body processes. Other external factors such as pollution may also produce free radicals,9 The risk of free radicals comes from their potential to cause cell damage and thus, cancer. Antioxidants can reduce this risk. And this is where the health benefits of dragon fruit come in. Dragon fruit contains several powerful antioxidants including flavonoids and phenols.10 An article titled Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry explored the role of antioxidants extracted from dragon fruit as a possible cancer treatment.11 Researchers identified several antioxidants found in a wide variety of foods. As they pointed out, over 60 percent of anti-cancer drugs come from plants including fruits and vegetables. Different antioxidants appeared to target certain cancers. Knowing how antioxidants target cancers can lead to more effective treatment options. Dragon fruit is a delicious addition to the many foods containing good sources of antioxidants. You can find more foods that protect against cancer development in my previous article as well as in my article about the best cancer fighting smoothies. Reduce Stroke Risk Dragon fruit can reduce your risk of stroke due to its high vitamin C levels. A single serving of dragon fruit provides 15 percent of your RDA of vitamin C which is a great addition to a healthy diet.12 But did you know that vitamin C may also reduce your risk of a stroke? The American College of Clinical Nutrition found that high concentrations of vitamin C in plasma could lower your stroke risk. Immune System Support Dragon fruit can boost your immune system due to its vitamin C content which is needed for a healthy immune system. According to Cleveland Clinic, vitamin C is one of several nutrients that can help to boost your immune system.14 And with a yummy source of vitamin C, like dragon fruit, you’ll have no problems getting adequate amounts of this important nutrient in your diet. Dragon Fruit and Your Skin A diet that includes dragon fruit can give your skin a healthy glow, reduce the effects of sun exposure and may even slow down the aging process of your skin. This is due to the good nutrients found in dragon fruit like vitamin C. Vitamin C protects your skin in many ways including wound healing. It helps your body produce collagen which is a protein that forms the structure of various tissues in your body including skin, tendons, and ligaments. In fact, your body cannot make collagen without vitamin C. A study examining the effects of vitamin C found that this nutrient may also prevent skin aging and skin damage from UV radiation exposure.15 It is effective for both the UV exposure that causes sunburns and skin cancer. Dragon Fruit and Pregnancy Dragon fruit offers health benefits for your baby too, so it’s an excellent food to eat if you are pregnant. It is packed with nutrients to support your pregnancy including iron, calcium, protein, and potassium.1 In addition, the seeds of dragon fruit are a good source of healthy fats including oleic acid which is a monounsaturated fat. A study published in the Journal of Lipid Research found that oleic acid inhibits fat and cholesterol formation.16 Because it is a monounsaturated fat, it can also help you keep your LDL in check. For your baby, these healthy fats are important for brain and nervous system development. How to Eat Dragon Fruit All this talk about the health benefits of dragon fruit probably has you wondering how to eat it. Dragon fruit is eaten raw. While the peel isn’t edible, the juicy pulp has a firm but creamy texture. When buying dragon fruit, choose fruits that are firm. Then let them ripen a bit if they are too firm. To get to the yummy flesh, slice the dragon fruit in half using a spoon to remove it from the skin.17 Then eat it as it is including the seeds. You can enjoy dragon fruit in a shake or as a healthy dessert.18 For an extra special treat, mix up a batch of dragon fruit salsa to serve as an accompaniment with seared scallops for an elegant meal worthy of date night.19 Its great taste and alluring look add to the many reasons to indulge yourself with some dragon fruit. Its sweet flavor is a bonus to the many health benefits of dragon fruit.