By our reporter
In a bid to reduce post-harvest losses, tackle malnutrition among under-5 children and create jobs for women and youths, NAFJAY Global Limited, producers of NURBLEND Foods, has trained students on practical food processing, packaging and branding at its facility in Kaduna State.
The training, led by the Founder, Nafisa Muhammad Nasir, a Food and Industrial Microbiologist, focused on how to process Agricultural Products into nutritious finished goods, production of Instant Baby Foods (Tombrown), Beans Dumplings (Garin Danwake), Garin Kunu, Spices, Popcorn and other nutrient-dense foods.
According to Nafisa, Nigeria faces a double burden – high post-harvest losses of agricultural produce and high rates of malnutrition among under-5 children.
“In Kaduna and across Nigeria, we lose over 40% of our farm produce after harvest, while at the same time, many under-5 children suffer from malnutrition due to lack of affordable, nutritious complementary foods. As a Food and Industrial Microbiologist, I decided to bridge that gap,” she said.
“Instead of watching our agricultural produce rot, we can process them into Tombrown and other instant baby foods that are rich in protein, energy and micronutrients to tackle malnutrition in under-5 children. This is how we turn waste to wealth and waste to nutrition,” she added.
She said the training was designed to teach students how to start small with what they have and become self-reliant, while also contributing to child nutrition.
“At NAFJAY, we teach them not just how to process, but how to formulate balanced, nutritious foods for babies and children, and how to package, brand, and label to standard. We show them how to use simple dehydrators, milling machines, sealing machines and laminated films. If a student can produce neat, well-labelled, nutritious Tombrown or Garin Danwake from her kitchen, she can feed her community, save our children from malnutrition, and employ others,” she said
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The participants were taken through hands-on sessions on processing of agricultural produce, formulation of instant baby food (Tombrown) for complementary feeding, popcorn and Garin Danwake production, milling, proper hygiene, food safety, nutritional composition, and branding.
Nafisa called on government, NGOs, UNICEF, WHO and development partners to support such practical skill training to tackle unemployment and child malnutrition in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
“We are ready to train more women and youths across Kaduna State. This is our own way of supporting government in job creation, food security, poverty reduction and tackling malnutrition among under-5 children. With little support, we can train 1000 youths before the end of next year and reach thousands of children with nutritious foods,” she said.
NAFJAY Global Limited is a Kaduna-based food processing company producing Curry Seasoning, All-Purpose Seasoning and other value-added nutritious foods under the brand NURBLEND Foods.
For Training, Consultancy and Partnership:
Nafisa Muhammad Nasir, Founder, NAFJAY Global Limited (NURBLEND Foods)
Food and Industrial Microbiologist
Location: Unguwar Rimi , Kaduna State, Nigeria
Available for: Training of Women/Youth Groups, Formulation of Complementary Foods, Consultancy on Food Processing to Tackle Malnutrition
Kaduna Entrepreneur Trains Students to Tackle Child Malnutrition with Local Foods
Students in Kaduna have been trained on how to convert agricultural products into nutritious, shelf-stable foods to tackle malnutrition among under-5 children.
The training was organized by NAFJAY Global Limited, producers of NURBLEND Foods, at its processing centre in Nasarawa, Kaduna.
The founder, Nafisa Muhammad Nasir, a Food and Industrial Microbiologist, trained participants on processing of agricultural products, formulation of instant baby food (Tombrown) rich in protein for under-5 children, Garin Danwake, Garin Kunu, spices, packaging and branding.
She said the initiative is aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, making youths self-reliant, and tackling child malnutrition using affordable local foods.
NAFJAY Global says it is open to consultancy and training for women and youth groups, NGOs, and government agencies willing to sponsor mass training to fight malnutrition.
