Food and Nutrition Policy.

The Food and Nutrition Policy (2018) (Policy) goal is to attain optimal nutritional status at all stages of life at a level that is consistent with a high quality of life, productivity and longevity of life. The scope of the police is to provide an overarching framework covering the key dimensions of food and nutrition security including sustained food availability, accessibility and utilization of food; food safety and quality; postharvest management; and optimal nutrition security at all levels of society, agro-ecological zones and livelihoods as well as in recurring emergencies. The policy also considers matters that pose challenges to food and nutrition security such as land degradation, globalization, regional market integration, demographic change, income inequalities, increasing population pressure, urbanization, and the demand for natural resources. The policy also gives emphasis to food and nutrition capacity building at national, regional and institutional levels along with empowering communities, families and individuals to enhance optimal nutrition behaviors and practices.
Policy's Directions are outlined under chapter 7, they follow: 1) Ensure availability, accessibility and utilization of diversified, safe and nutritious foods in a sustainable way; 2) Ensure the safety and quality of foods from farm to table; 3) Improve postharvest management of agricultural food products; 4) Ensure optimum nutrition at all stages of life; 5) Provision of timely and appropriate food and nutrition emergency response for natural and manmade disasters; 6) Strengthen food and nutrition communication; 7) Establish and strengthen food and nutrition governance.
Implementation of the Policy shall rely on evidence based approaches and implementation framework to ensure sustainability, cost effectiveness, coordination and community involvement. Approaches adopted in the implementation of the Policy comprise life cycle approach, Food as human right, Food based approaches, Multi-sectoral integration, coordination and linkage, Nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive approaches and Farm to table approach.