Background:
Badakshan is the 5th largest province representing 5% of the total population of Afghanistan and remains one of the most isolated and inaccessible provinces of the country. Poor food production and resulting hunger / health problems remain a challenge in most areas of the province.

According to the National Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA) survey between a quarter and a third of the total population in the targeted districts have a daily calorific intake below the standard recommended level. A quick district assessment survey carried out by Mission East in January 2008 in Khash and Yomgan districts shows that 20% of the total patients treated at local hospitals were malnourished. These results show that the population is at a high risk of malnutrition and development of related health conditions. The lack of basic services such as health, roads and schools combined with limited food security has lead to this vulnerability.

The dietary deficiencies are to a great extent found to be caused from people's lack of knowledge about the right crops to grow and the proper ways to prepare the kinds of nutritious meals that would meet the needs of all household members. In order to encourage households to diversify home garden production and make better use of locally available foods, Mission East have since 2003 implemented kitchen-garden projects in four districts of Badakshan, with financial support from DANIDA. Last year, thirteen types of improved vegetable seeds, imported from Pakistan and Tajikistan, were distributed among 500 poor women (in 500 households).

In 2007 Mission East, in collaboration with FAO, implemented a nutrition, food security and livelihood project in Baharak, Jurm, Shohada and Warduj districts of Badakshan which proved very successful. Almost 500 women, responsible for feeding an equivalent number of households, acquired improved food processing skills. With their new skills on food processing, the beneficiaries became able to store some food for future consumption and sell the surplus food at the local market. For the targeted poor households in remote districts of Badakshan the acquired food processing skills are now a major source of income.

Action:
The project will aim to increase availability of food and and associated income opportunitie, as well as increase food diversity and nutritional standards. This will be achieved by targeted training and awareness activities, which will raise awareness of the nutritional values of vegetables and improve household food preservation/processing skills.