Food security systems are dominated by micro businesses in Africa. According to a report by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, millions of small and medium-sized enterprises source directly from millions more smallholder farmers across Africa. These enterprises are mostly led by women.
Amineru Foods in Nigeria is led by a Woman, Hajia Amina Izaugbe. She has a passion for transforming food security systems in Nigeria and her dream is to break the borders and meet household food security globally. I recently had a conversation with her with the support of the Chief Operation Officer of Amineru Foods. Together they have employed women and empower them financially. They give a stable market to small-scale farmers for they source their fresh produce for processing, from small-scale farmers.
As a nutritionist, who has studied food security systems since 2017, the importance of involving small businesses in food processing, packing and distribution, is paramount in creating functional food security systems in Africa.
Amineru Foods sources cassava, plantain and other fresh produce from local farmers and they also grow in their small farm.
Physical Food accessibility and financial accessibility
Food availability doesn’t mean physical food accessibility and financial accessibility. Food physical accessibility means that food is physically accessible to an individual or household. Food financial accessibility means it’s packed in quantities that, the individual with the lowest purchasing power, can afford.
The cost of farming, sourcing, processing, packaging and distribution is a major contributor to the financial accessibility of food.
What can be done?
I have, been studying food security systems from the year, 2017. Nutritious foods can be sourced, processed, packed and distributed without compromising the nutrient quality of the food.
“Our products are pure, natural, no perseverative, no additives, they are natural products” Hajia, Amina, Izaugbe, CEO, Amineru Foods, Nigeria.
Listen to my full interview, with the CEO and COO of Amineru Foods here :
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MxeQrCMTQQtRS9ig38mRn?si=088224ec8930405b
Patricia Henry,
Nutritionist.
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