Enriching soils and seeds to improve nutrition

September 2014: Farmers in southern Ethiopia have achieved a two-fold increase in chickpea productivity through enhanced soil health and improved crop varieties. At the same time, improved food processing, preparation methods and education programs have contributed to better nutrition, including through the incorporation of chickpeas into diets.

These are the findings of the ‘Improving Nutrition in Ethiopia through Plant Breeding and Soil Management' project, which researches the biofortification of pulse crops. 

• It employs strategies to enrich the nutrient contribution of staple crops (chickpea) through plant breeding, soil micronutrient management (zinc fertilizer) and household processing strategies. 
• It supports biofortification as a cost-effective and sustainable approach to increasing micronutrients in crops using agronomic strategies. 
• The project also focuses on women's empowerment.

This case study is one of a series of nine ‘Stories of Change' that share some of the gender outcomes emerging from research in sub-Saharan Africa that is supported by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), a program of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Read the story of change: From field to fingers: enriching soils and seeds to improve nutrition (PDF, 295 KB, available in English only).