The ANGeL Project, in close collaboration with local stakeholders, is evaluating how best to promote nutrition- and gender-sensitive agriculture. After only a few months, the project has already made an impact among both government officials and farm families across the country. In September and October 2016, the ANGeL Project team (composed of IFPRI-PRSSP staff and Government of Bangladesh officials) conducted field visits to assess the quality of field trainings, provide guidance, and receive feedback.
That feedback was positive among government officials: Upazila agriculture officer Khajanur Rahman commended the project for integrating the government into its design. His colleague Shah Alam Mia said that “other projects should replicate what the ANGeL Project is doing.” Others appreciated the opportunity that the project provides to broaden their reach in the community.
Farm families also voiced their approval. Rather than limiting participation to men only, ANGeL invites a man and woman from each household to attend trainings. These sessions focus not just on agricultural production but also on nutrition. One participant remarked, “Nutrition is usually seen as a female domain, but we learned about how agriculture and nutrition are connected.” Participants learn about the nutrition content in different types of foods and what their daily diet should look like. One participant said, “I have learned that lal shak and chicken liver are good for eyes, as they contain more vitamins.” Another noted that he felt more confident about buying food for his children.