The Ifugao State University (IFSU) will soon produce the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s (DOST-FNRI) rice-mongo complementary foods.
The DOST-FNRI said the production of the nutritious complementary foods is part of its Malnutrition Reduction Program (MRP).
Ifugao has been identified as among the eight geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) which have recorded “persistent malnutrition” among infants and young children.
“These complementary food blends and snack foods are the rice-mongo instant blend and curls which provide energy and nutrients for infants and young children,” the Institute said.
IFSU is one of the eight beneficiaries of the MRP, an integrated intervention strategy involving nutrition education and technology transfer of complementary food technologies of the DOST-FNRI, aimed at helping address malnutrition among children aged six months up to two years old and those young children.
The DOST-FNRI had announced that a complementary food processing facility was constructed in Ifugao.
Included in the list of MRP beneficiaries are Romblon, Catanduanes, Zamboanga del Norte, Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
These areas have also been identified as the priority areas of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) for 2017-2022.
The Institute said aside from the establishment of complementary food production facilities (CFPFs), the Package for the Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children or the DOST-PINOY will be implemented in these areas.
The DOST-PINOY seeks to benefit the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) as they are given nutrition education on basic nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, meal planning, safe food handling and preparation, and backyard vegetable gardening.