Men and women are the pillars of the development of every sector of the economy. To ensure faster economic growth and development, the government must therefore ensure gender responsiveness in the implementation of projects and activities in the country.
Assessing the 2021 Ghana’s budget, Send Ghana has called on the government to ensure gender-responsive during the implementation of the budget.
According to Mr. George Ose-Bimpeh, Country Director of Send Ghana, the role of both men and women contributing significantly to the growth of the agricultural sector especially the fishing industry cannot be overlooked. He said this during a press conference at Accra.
He explained that while some 500,000 affiliated workers are engaged in the processing, distribution, and marketing of fish (which are female-dominated), the sector employs some 135,000 fishers. “Whereas access to outboard motors, fishing nets, etc. are of primary concern to men, access to improved ovens remains a challenge for women, with only about one percent of them using improved ovens for processing” he added.
However, the Fisheries Input Support Scheme does not seem to prioritize the needs of women in the provision of inputs. With specific challenges of men and women in the industry, the seeming lack of due consideration for both men and women in the budget of the ministry is worrying.
To tackle this issue the Government must therefore ensure gender responsiveness in the implementation of projects and activities of the ministry.
Mr. Osei-Bimpeh urged the government to give equal priority to Rearing for Food and Jobs as it was done for Planting for Food and Jobs.
“The continuous yearly allocation to Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) must be commended. However, the government should prioritize and provide clear budgetary allocation to Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) too. Although the budget statement outlined key activities to be implemented in 2021 under the RFJ programme, the budget is silent on a dedicated expenditure line” he reiterated.
In the wake of climate change and uncertainties in crop yields, an alternative to improve incomes and sustain the livelihoods of crop farmers will be the rearing of small ruminants. In addition, the effective implementation of RFJ will improve the household nutrition of smallholder farmers.
Everyone experiences an upset stomach and indigestion, or dyspepsia, from time to time after eating or drinking. The condition is usually no cause for concern, and it is often possible to treat the symptoms using home remedies.
Common symptoms of an upset stomach and indigestion include: Heartburn, or acid reflux Nausea Bloating Gas Belching, sometimes bringing up bitter or foul-tasting fluid or food Farting Bad-smelling or sour breath Hiccupping or coughing
Some of the most popular home remedies for an upset stomach and indigestion include:
Drinking water Dehydration can increase the likelihood of an upset stomach. The body needs water to digest and absorb nutrients from foods and beverages efficiently. Being dehydrated makes digestion more difficult and less effective, which increases the likelihood of an upset stomach.
In general, the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) recommends that: Women should have around 2.7 liters (l), or 91 ounces (oz), of water a day Men should have about 3.7 l, or 125 oz, of water a day Around 20 percent of this will come from food, with the rest coming from beverages. For most people, a good figure to aim for is approximately 8 or more cups of water a day. Younger children require slightly less water than adults.
For those with digestive issues, it is imperative to stay hydrated. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration very quickly so people with these symptoms should keep drinking water.
Avoiding lying down When the body is horizontal, the acid in the stomach is more likely to travel backward and move upward, which can cause heartburn.
People with an upset stomach should avoid lying down or going to bed for at least a few hours until it passes. Someone who needs to lie down should prop up their head, neck, and upper chest with pillows, ideally at a 30-degree angle.
Ginger Ginger is a common natural remedy for an upset stomach and indigestion. Ginger contains chemicals called gingerols and shogaols that can help speed up stomach contractions. This may move foods that are causing indigestion through the stomach more quickly.
The chemicals in ginger may also help to reduce nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. People with an upset stomach could try adding ginger to their food or drinking it as tea. Some all-natural ginger ales may also contain enough ginger to settle an upset stomach. Ginger tea is widely available to buy in supermarkets and online.
Mint In addition to sweetening the breath, the menthol in mint may help with the following:
Preventing vomiting and diarrhea Reducing muscle spasms in the intestines Relieving pain Researchers Trusted Source have found that mint is a traditional treatment for indigestion, gas, and diarrhea in Iran, Pakistan, and India.
Raw and cooked mint leaves are both suitable for consumption. Traditionally, people often boil mint leaves with cardamom to make tea. It is also possible to powder or juice mint leaves and mix them with other teas, beverages, or foods. Mint leaves are widely available in health stores and online. Sucking on mint candies might be another way to help reduce the pain and discomfort of heartburn.
Taking a warm bath or using a heating bag Heat may relax tense muscles and ease indigestion, so taking a warm bath may help to ease the symptoms of an upset stomach. It could also be beneficial to apply a heated bag or pad to the stomach for 20 minutes or until it goes cool.
BRAT diet Doctors may recommend the BRAT diet to people with diarrhea. BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. These foods are all starchy, so they can help bind foods together to make stools firmer. This may decrease the number of stools a person passes and help ease their diarrhea.
As these foods are bland, they do not contain substances that irritate the stomach, throat, or intestines. Therefore, this diet can soothe the tissue irritation resulting from the acids in vomit. Many of the foods in the BRAT diet are also high in nutrients such as potassium and magnesium and can replace those lost through diarrhea and vomiting.
Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol Smoking can irritate the throat, increasing the likelihood of an upset stomach. If the person has vomited, smoking can further irritate the tender tissue already sore from stomach acids.
As a toxin, alcohol is difficult to digest and can cause damage to the liver and stomach lining. People with an upset stomach should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol until they are feeling better.
Avoiding difficult-to-digest foods Some foods are harder to digest than others, which increases the risk of an upset stomach. Anyone with an upset stomach should avoid foods that are: Fried or fatty Rich or creamy Salty or heavily preserved
Lime or lemon juice, baking soda, and water Some studies suggest that mixing lime or lemon juice in water with a pinch of baking soda can help to relieve a variety of digestive complaints.
This mixture produces carbonic acid, which may help to reduce gas and indigestion. It may also improve liver secretion and intestinal mobility. The acidity and other nutrients in lime or lemon juice can help to digest and absorb fats and alcohol while neutralizing bile acids and reducing acidity in the stomach. Most traditional recipes recommend mixing the following quantities:
1 tablespoon (tbsp) of fresh lemon or lime juice
1 teaspoon (tsp) of baking soda
8 oz of clean water
Rice Plain rice is useful for people with many types of stomach complaints. It can help by: Adding bulk to stool Absorbing fluids that may contain toxins Easing pain and cramps, because of its high levels of magnesium and potassium
Someone who is vomiting or has diarrhea could try slowly eating half a cup of plain, well-cooked rice. It is best to wait until at least a few hours after the last episode of vomiting. The person may continue to do this for 24–48 hours until diarrhea stops. Rice is also part of the BRAT diet that doctors often recommend.
Coconut water Coconut water contains high levels of potassium and magnesium. These nutrients help to reduce pain, muscle spasms, and cramps.
Coconut water is also useful for rehydrating and is a better option than most sports drinks as it is also low in calories, sugar, and acidity. Slowly sipping on up to 2 glasses of coconut water every 4–6 hours could ease upset stomach symptoms.
Bananas Bananas contain vitamin B6, potassium, and folate. These nutrients can help to ease cramps, pains, and muscle spasms. Bananas can also help by adding bulk to loose stools, which can alleviate diarrhea.
The Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Ghana (CSIR) has engaged stakeholders in the food industry on Ghana’s response plan against cassava viral diseases to improve yield.
The meeting was to enhance the understanding of key stakeholders on the health and economic importance of cassava, the viral diseases affecting the crop, and measures to adopt to eliminate and control them.
Representatives from CSIR-CRI, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) attended the meeting.
Dr. Moses Mochiah, Director of CSIR-CRI, in a welcome address, said cassava is an important crop as it provided food for nearly 800 million people worldwide, including 500 million Africans and some 25 million Ghanaians.
He said the crop’s resilience makes it a strategic one for food security and poverty reduction since its derived products such as gari, tapioca, fermented dough, flour, starch, and chips, amongst others, helped to boost sub-regional trade.
Despite its importance, Africa, the world’s largest cassava producer, had the lowest yields compared to other continents as cultivation of the crop was impeded by several constraints, including viral diseases.
Dr. Mochiach said African Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) and Cassava Brown Steak Disease (CBSD) constituted the most eminent restrictions to cassava production due to their geographical distribution, resulting in an annual economic loss which is estimated at two to three billion dollars in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.
He said the recent spread of CBSD from East Africa into Central Africa and the threat it posed to West Africa was a great concern because it could lead to yield loss of up to 90 percent or more.
These two viral diseases are transmitted by whiteflies, which are abundant in Ghana and disseminated by humans through the exchange and use of infected planting materials.
He said the havoc that the diseases could wreak on cassava production necessitated the meeting to discuss the response plan and the role of key stakeholders.
He expressed the hope that the response plan and its implementation would receive support and cooperation from stakeholders to contribute to Ghana’s effort in controlling the disease.
Dr. Allen Oppong, a Senior Research Scientist at CSIR and Ghana’s leader of the West Africa Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), who presented the objectives and outputs of the plan, said out of the two viral diseases, the most prevalent in the country was the African cassava mosaic viral disease.
He said the cassava mosaic disease varied from country to country, including, Cameroon, South African, Ivory Coast, and Ghana.
Any of these varied types have a serious effect on the cassava crop and result in about 20 to 40 percent loss in yields.
Dr. Oppong said although the cassava brown steak viral disease was not yet in Ghana, there was a need for stakeholders to prepare for its control to prevent the devastating effects on cassava production.
He said farmers often did not know the symptoms of the cassava viral diseases and indicated that the Ghana cassava response plan spelled out elaborate education of farmers to raise awareness of the diseases.
It would also help to promote the highly resistant cassava crops produced out of research to farmers as a measure to control the viral diseases.
Dr Oppong said the key structure of the response plan when accepted by all key stakeholders would be the setting up of an Emergency Operation Centre (ECO) to facilitate all activities towards a quick response against the cassava viral diseases.
Nana Fobi Kropa, the Chief of Atwimanim, who chaired the function, noted that cassava provided food and jobs for many Ghanaians, and therefore, commended stakeholders for the response plan to improve cassava production.
Indeed, women are the major contributors to Ghana’s food basket, yet building their capacities for development is way down below the belt as expected. In contributing a quota to the women’s development in the agriculture sector to upscale production, Agrihouse Foundation has launched the 3rd Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and God in the Soil Awards.
“I believe there is no telling the heights and achievement women can reach when the right environment is created for our flourishing, and I am therefore delighted that Agrihouse Foundation has projects such as Agri-women Market Place and the Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum, both interventional projects highlighting the work of women farmers and building their capacities while creating market accessibility, training and mentoring opportunities for them”, the Chairwoman of the event, Nana Adwoa Awindoh said.
Women farmers in particular face a lot of challenges, and this global pandemic has only intensified these concerns, in the areas of transportation, innovative marketing approaches, education, lack of skills training to enable self-reliance, and limited access to the market.
The chairperson enumerated that this is why Agrihouse Foundation for taken up the good fight and the intentional position to ensure that these challenges that the women farmers go through in the course of contributing to the national food baskets are mitigated. At this juncture, she added, it is important to note that smallholder farmers in Ghana, the majority of whom are women generate 80% of total agricultural production in the country. Thus, no support towards the resilience and sustainability of Ghanaian Agri-women is too small.
She thanked all the sponsors and the supporting partners for their immense contribution to the development of women in the agricultural sector and called for more assistance from the stakeholders both at the sector and other private partners to rally behind such thoughtful initiative to help the women thrive at this difficult times.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association of Ghana (NFFAWAG), Dennis K. Addo noted that the effect of Covid-19 was very rife and all other countries closed their doors to us, but the gallant farmers who are mostly women demonstrated why are the backbone of Ghana’s economy.
“Our women worked untiringly to feed citizens with fruits and vegetables for stronger immune system against infections and even feeding front line health workers with energy and good health in their work”, he emphasized.
As an organizing partner, he said this year’s WOFAGRIC 21 would seek to showcase the efforts of the women agripreneurs, celebrate their achievements and contributions to the economic growth of their communities and countries, promote networking among women achievers in agribusiness and propel them to do more collectively, and recognize and reward pioneers and trailblazers; the women who push the boundaries along the agricultural value chain.
He commended the positive effect of the programme for adding 25% of women participants who were not into agriculture, and have now ventured into agribusiness after receiving the soft skills training during the previous edition of the programme.
The theme for this year’s event “Surviving, Thriving and Making Waves beyond the Pandemic” could not be more appropriate in view of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the agricultural value chains, particularly for women farmers, the Special Guest Speaker of the programme, Stephanie Brunet, Deputy Director of Operations, Canadian High Commission said.
According to her, since 2017, Canada has been providing support to the Government of Ghana to improve its agriculture sector through an initiative called Modernizing Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) and recognizes that the sector continues to hold great potential for reducing poverty and inequality in the country. “That is why we are providing 125 million Canadian dollars of assistance directly to the Government of Ghana to help modernize the sector”, she explained.
She expounded the big focus of the MAG project is to understand the specific needs of women farmers and to ensure that both female and male farmers are receiving the appropriate extension services to help them improve both their yields and their incomes.
“This is in line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality and through our partnerships with the Government of Ghana and organizations like the Agrihouse Foundation, we are witnessing increased empowerment and self-reliance among women in the agricultural sector. Women farmers are demonstrating higher levels of financial autonomy. As a result, they are now able to buy land, add rooms to their homes, purchase agro-processing machines, expand their agro-processing activities, and pay school fees for their children”, she contentedly said.
She believes that women are critical to the sustainability of Ghana’s agriculture and that successful women farmers deserved to be recognized for their achievements and contributions to the nation. She thanked the supporting partners and Agrihouse Foundation and assured their support to this year’s event.
The Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr. Francis Ennor delivering his remarks to welcome this year’s WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil which would be held at the Upper East Region said he has no shadow of doubt about the potential impact of the project on the livelihoods of women farmers in my region after familiarized himself with the concept note of the project.
Sharing little occupational history about the region, Mr. Ennor said agriculture remains the main source of livelihood for the majority of the people in the Upper East Region of Ghana, and of the total estimated farmer population of 928,090 in the Region, 49% are women. These women (mostly smallholders) are variously involved in mainstream agricultural production and agribusiness-related activities for sustenance.
“The prevailing agricultural production environment (attributable to the existence of well-organized and coordinated women groups and value chain actors) in the region, thus, FBOs with the membership of 13,106 positions it well to host the WOFAGRIC project. The Upper East region is thus more than prepared for the project and would therefore accord it all the necessary technical support it desires to succeed”, he mentioned.
He thanked Agrihouse Foundation and the sponsors of the great initiative and also for making Upper East the Host region for this year’s event.
The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa thanked the supporting partners and the sponsors for their continuous support and called for more corporative support towards the activities and projects. “We believe we are filling a great gap in our national efforts, in our agricultural sector”, she eulogized.
Giving a success story of the Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and God in the Soil Awards over the years, Alberta announced that in 2019, almost a quarter of the nominees for the Gold in the Soil Awards made entries into the National Best Farmers Award Scheme at district, regional and national levels, 7 of them won laurels at the district and regional levels whilst 2 of them picked up awards at the National awards.
“Guidance provided by the Netherlands embassy and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) equipped some of the women farmers on how to go about documentations to export their produce. This helped about 13 women to start the process to go into exportation. In 2020, at the end of the tw0-day event, 25 % of women who were not into agribusiness had decided to start up their own agri-projects, as a result of the competence-based training and soft skills they had acquired”, she added.
The 3rd Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and God in the Soil Awards was launched at OAK Plaza, Accra with the theme “Surviving, Thriving and Making Waves beyond the Pandemic”. The WOFAGRIC event would be held in Upper East Region in July.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, MOFA, has called for the establishment of a fertilizer plant in Ghana to meet demand in the sub-region.
According to MOFA, the production of fertilizer on large scale would motivate farmers to apply the input to meet the 2006 Abuja Convention which requires that African farmers use fifty kilograms of fertilizer per hectare on a plot of land.
The Minister, Dr. Osei Akoto made the call at an Introductory Workshop on Fertilizer Research and Responsible Implementation for Ph.D. Research students at the Soil Research Institute of the CSIR in Kumasi.
Bitter Kola also is known as Garcinia kola, is a multipurpose tree found mostly in the tropical rain forest region of Central and West Africa.
This highly sourced species is called “wonder plant” because every part of it such as the seeds, stem, and leaves has been used for medicinal purposes over decades.
One study found that Garcinia kola acts as anti-bacteria, anti-virus, and provides protection against cancer among other diseases.
The most valued product of the tree is the seeds, which are commonly chewed by rural and urban populations of the African region to avoid and treat gastric problems.
Garcinia kola has several health benefits including curing a good number of sicknesses.
What sickness does bitter kola cure? There is vast evidence that bioactive components of the seeds can serve as an alternative medicine to treat and cure severe diseases or ailments such as…
Diabetes The effect of garcinia kola on diabetes is quite astounding. Findings have it that bitter kola can regulate blood sugar levels in the blood by reducing and normalizing it. Consuming Bitter Kola seed significantly ameliorates hyperglycemia-mediated damage by decreasing the blood glucose level, enhancing the antioxidant system, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, and improving complications of diabetes mellitus. This therapy is likely to be most effective in the early stage of diabetes as a severe state might require the services of health experts.
Malaria Over the years, traditional healers have been recommending bitter kola to their patients as a treatment for some ailments of which malaria is inclusive. Experimental studies backed up this fact in their finding that the chemical constituents in bitter kola have anti-malaria properties and can do wonders if two or three (with some water) of the seeds are chewed when signs arise. In addition, the stem, bark, and seeds of garcinia kola are used to treat acute fever, inflammation of the respiratory tract, and throat infections.
Weak immune system Bitter kola has a high amount of antioxidants. This high amount of antioxidants found in bitter kola does not only help fight bacteria and other illnesses but also helps the body to increase its immunity levels.
Also, when the immunity level of the body is increased, it becomes strong enough to fight against any foreign contaminant.
Glaucoma Glaucoma is a condition of increased pressure within the eyeball, causing a gradual loss of sight. Glaucoma could result in permanent blindness if left untreated. However, garcinia kola has been found to be an amazing remedy for this ailment. Researchers at Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria tested the effectiveness of eye drops that contained 0.5 percent extract of Bitter Kola. The results of their study showed that the ophthalmic solution that contained the Garcinia kola significantly reduced eye pressure when used twice a day. The study then recommended eating Bitter kola at least twice a day to ease eye pressure
Osteoarthritis It has been observed that many arthritis sufferers prefer natural herbal medicines to other pain relievers and medications. Studies were made and the researchers at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria found that there is a positive effect of Garcinia kola against arthritis symptoms. The results of the study concluded that Garcinia kola significantly reduce inflammation and pain and increased joint movement in subjects that had osteoarthritis symptoms.
Neutralizes Snake Poison Snakes can commonly be found in rural areas or homes that are close to the bush part. People who live in rural areas are more likely to have an encounter with snakes or experience snake bites. However, it is important to fumigate your environment regularly so as to keep snakes away. In the case, the compound or surrounding welcomed a snake and you got bitten in the process, you could use bitter kola to neutralize the effect of the snake venom. Chew 5-10 pieces of bitter kola immediately and within a few seconds, you will feel the need to urinate the poison out of the body. In addition, this method can also be effective for scorpion bites.
Helps to keep snakes away Snakes could pose a serious health concern especially when they are creeping around the house and compound and you have got children around. There are simple local methods you could use to totally eradicate snakes from coming around your homes.
One effective method is using grinded Bitter kola and maize to eradicate snakes from around the neighborhood. It doesn’t matter the species, kind, or size of the snake, just grind the bitter kola and mix it up with grinded maize. Spread it around the areas you observed snakes frequently pass through or around the compound or around your house; snakes will keep their distance totally. Repeat this process at intervals of three days.
Food Poison Bitter kola is anti-poisonous in nature, being that it helps in the prevention of bacterial infection caused as a result of food poisoning. The bark and seed of Garcinia kola when eaten together helps in the detoxification of the human system especially in cases of food poisoning. It is recommendable to chew bitter kola immediately after eating contaminated food or suspected contaminated food. Certain parts of the African countries have the belief that chewing and holding bitter Kola helps to drive away evil people and spirits.
Sore Throat Bitter kola seeds can be chewed to clear a sore throat and throat hoarseness. Bitter kola clears the throat by boosting mucus production along the vocal tube lining, which helps to soften the dry throat.
Cough Among other health ailments Garcinia kola can cure, cough is the most common one (NCBI). Allowing cough to persist for too long is not healthy and thus should be treated immediately signs are noticed. To use the Bitter kola method in curing cough, blend 8-10 bitter kola nuts and scoop the paste in a clean container with a cover.
Get a half bottle of honey and add a considerable amount to the paste about a ratio of 5:1 and stir very well. Allow staying for at least an hour to ferment. Then administer to your child or an adult three times daily, until symptoms of cough disappear. This home remedy is very potent. Stay away from drinking cold or iced water during treatment.
Respiratory problem The considerate amount of consumption of Bitter kola helps in strengthening and stabilizing lung tissue and maintain the respiratory tract. Traditional healers use Bitter Kola to treat chest colds. It also has a favorably high antioxidant content for a healthy body.
Chewing at least one bitter kola seed at an interval of two to three days can help keep your respiratory health at bay.
As per the USDA, lettuce contains a high water content, as well as small amounts of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and sugars. The minerals and vitamins found in it include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc along with B-vitamins like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamins C, A, E, and K.
Carbs and Calories in Lettuce As per Food Data Central, 100 grams of green leaf lettuce contains about 2.9 g of carbohydrates and 15 calories.
Health Benefits of Lettuce For thousands of years, this leaf has been cultivated as more than a vegetable. It possesses several amazing health benefits, they include the following.
Anti-inflammatory Agent Lettuce possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help in controlling inflammation. In experimental models, lettuce extracts have shown significant controlling power over inflammation induced by biocatalysts like lipoxygenase and carrageenan. More research is needed in this arena to bolster these results.
Close-up of fresh green lettuce leaves on a wooden table Fresh lettuce adds a crisp crunch to salads and sandwiches. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Lowers Cholesterol Levels Lettuce can be beneficial in lowering high cholesterol levels that often lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other dangerous conditions. High LDL cholesterol levels are harmful and can cause heart attack and stroke. A study was conducted on rodents to test the impact of lettuce consumption on fat and cholesterol.
The results indicated a significant reduction of cholesterol levels as compared to mice that weren’t fed lettuce. Lipid peroxidation was observed in most cases, which was concluded to be responsible for this form of cholesterol control. These results suggest that lettuce could be contributory as a method to reduce the risk factors of CVD.
Induces Sleep One of the major traditional uses of lettuce in Unani medicine was as a sleep inducer. Research into the extracts of lettuce resulted in the isolation of a depressant chemical. This chemical, when administered in experimental animals, showed significant sedative effects.
A 2013 research report, suggests that the main component(s) responsible for this effect in lettuce is most likely to be the non-polar agent(s), which are found in the n-butanol fraction (NBF) of this plant. Decreased heart rate and ventricular contractions were also observed. This particular chemical acts by blocking the excitatory signal processes of muscular and neural tissues. The effects of lettuce on sleep are compared to those of diazepam.
Antioxidant Agent Published in the journal Ancient Science of Life Journal, one study stated that lettuce possesses antioxidants with significant free radical-scavenging capabilities. Antioxidants are a wide range of biochemicals mostly found in our diet. They are also very necessary for human health and disease prevention.
Antioxidants act as barriers to free radicals, which are produced during cellular metabolism. These free radicals can attack healthy tissues, cells, and DNA inside them. Antioxidants, on the other hand, counteract these free radicals and neutralize them before the free radical attacks take place.
Health benefits of lettuce infographic
Lettuce is a healthy salad staple.
Antimicrobial Agent The latex of lettuce possesses antimicrobial properties. When coming into contact with latex from lettuce, research has shown that Candida albicans and many other yeasts were completely deformed. Biochemicals that are considered to possess these antimicrobial properties are the terpenes and cardenolides, as well as enzymes like glucanases. Studies such as these have positive implications for the antimicrobial abilities of this vegetable.
Helps Relieve Anxiety The neurological properties of lettuce, as mentioned earlier, have long been suggested during ancient times and the Middle Ages in medical treaties, such as the Unani system. A 2012 research paper published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease has led to the conclusion that lettuce possesses anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. When lab animals were given lettuce extracts, their locomotive activity was reduced, suggesting implications in human populations. As per NIH, leafy greens such as lettuce are also positively associated with our cognitive health.
Simple Recipes A few recipes are given below that can be easily tried at home.
Vegetable salad: Cut a tomato, cucumber, radish, carrot, red pepper, yellow pepper, and lettuce leaves. Add the cut vegetables to a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, a dash of olive oil, and lime juice. You can also try our Avocado Shrimp Salad With Zesty Lettuce Dressing here. You can also try our amazing fattoush salad recipe here – Fresh & Zingy Fattoush Salad Recipe.
Corn lettuce salad: Boil one cup of corn and let it cool. Cut some lettuce, onion, and tomato, and put it in a bowl. Add the boiled corn to this mixture. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, olive oil, and lime juice. You can add other vegetables like boiled baby potatoes, mushrooms, or peas, or even throw in some boiled chicken or fish.
Word of Caution: A study report published in the Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology, has shown that even lettuce can produce allergies, and the allergen proteins have been identified. Food allergies are the abnormal response of the immune system to certain types of food that the body recognizes as harmful. Food allergies that result in anaphylaxis are the worst kind and according to the Center for Disease Control, they are on the rise. People who already suffer from food allergies are generally at risk when trying new foods. So, a word of caution is advised while eating lettuce for the first time.
Every day, millions of people around the world enjoy chocolate and other products made from cocoa grown in Ghana. Ghana’s cocoa industry is among the world’s best in terms of export volume and innovation said by the CSOs at the launch of the Easter Chocolate Scorecard.
“Ghana is the second-largest cocoa producer in the world; in 2019/2020 season we produced an estimated 800,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans and hoping to increase it to 850,000 metric tonnes in 2020/2021 season. The issue is that there are concerns about the circumstances under which cocoa is produced.
Cocoa is a major global driver of forest destruction. West Africa produces 75% of the world’s cocoa, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana being the largest producers. These two countries have lost most of their forests in the past sixty years around 94% and 80% respectively.
This has prompted several high-level discussions on the future of cocoa production in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire” Managing campaigner for EcoCare Ghana, Obed Owusu-Addai said at the launch of the 2021 Easter scorecard in Ghana that was earlier launched in Washington D.C, USA.
“The Managing campaigner mentioned that Easter is the biggest chocolate shopping holiday of the year. The 2021 Easter Scorecard ranks and grades chocolate companies on key sustainability issues.
The Easter Scorecard, ranking the performance of global chocolate companies’ reveals they are shortchanging farmers in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire by not paying them what they deserve.
The latest findings by six international civil society platforms in the cocoa sector have revealed that some chocolate companies are failing to pay the living income differential meant to improve the wellbeing of the farmers in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire” he said.
Emphasizing the profound shortchanging of cocoa farmers in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, Mrs. Sandra Kwabea Sarkwah, SEND GHANA Project Officer said that the key sustainability issues they want to address now are human rights due diligence, transparency and traceability, living income, child labour, deforestation and climate, and agro-forestry.
“I believe there is the need for retooling in the cocoa sector and with a common front we will win the fight against unacceptable living income differential for farmers in Ghana and Cote D Ivoire.
Ghana and Cote D Ivoire managed to get $400 dollars extra money as living income differential for farmers, but, what we found out was that these multinationals are trying to evade the payment of this extra income,” she said.
Senior Advisor at Might Earth, a global environmental campaign organization, Mr. Samuel Mawutor explained that the scorecard also shows that peace for adopting agroforestry and more climate-friendly farming practices is much slower than required.
“The joint survey was developed, completed, and published by Mighty Earth, Green America, INKOTA, National Wildlife Federation, and Be Slavery Free (Australia and The Netherlands).
We created explanatory videos for Zoom conferences with companies to answer any possible questions and graded the companies. Companies were appointed a liaison from the team, and many companies took the opportunity to meet with their liaisons virtually.
The companies selected ranged from the largest cocoa traders and chocolate manufacturers in the industry to smaller innovative companies. Those selected either can take a large toll or make a big positive impact on people and the planet. The survey covered human rights due diligence, transparency and traceability, living income, child labor, deforestation and climate, and agroforestry. These are some of the most pressing, vital sustainability issues facing the chocolate industry today.
Storck, Unilever, Starbucks, and Valrohna were approached to participate but did not do so. Non-participation was viewed as a lack of transparency; we believe that all companies selling chocolate products should be able to provide the information we are asking for, and consumers have the right to know the conditions under which chocolate is produced.
Storck, a confectioner with production facilities in Germany and 12 international subsidiaries received the lowest marks the ‘Rotten Egg Award’ for lack of responsiveness and transparency.
The ‘Good Egg’ was awarded to Alter Eco, a US-based company with distribution in the US and Europe.
Previous Rotten Egg “winners” substantially improved their performance on sustainability across the board.” he explained.
The Media Launch for the Easter Chocolate Scorecard was held at ECOcare Ghana Head office in Accra.
Pineapple is one of the most popular fruit in the world because of its health benefits, but many people don’t know that pineapple peels also contain amazing benefits.
Aside from enjoying the benefits of pineapple juice, fermented pineapple skin drink offers many health benefits. This is because pineapple peel composition contains vitamin B, C, folate, thiamin, pantothenic acid, bromelain, niacin, and fiber
Benefits Anti-inflammatory Bromelain, a powerful enzyme found in high concentrations in pineapple skin and stems, helps to cut down inflammation in the body. It’s been touted for reducing swelling after surgery or injury and works as an anti-inflammatory in the sinuses and throughout the body.
Digestive Aid Not only do the peels serve to make digestion smoother, but they’ve also been found to help fight intestinal parasites, constipation, and possibly IBS symptoms. They also build up healthy gut flora.
Immune Booster The high levels of vitamin C in the pineapple and its skin prevent and fight infections. The power of bromelain and vitamin C act as a bacteria fighter, mucus cutter, cough suppressant, wound healer, and overall system booster in the body.
Arthritis and Joint Pain Fighter Here again, bromelain works its anti-inflammatory magic in those who have arthritis or joint pain. Mixing up a potion with pineapple peels works directly on the source of the pain. Check out how to make a topical remedy below.
Vision Protector Beta carotene and vitamin C present in the entire plant aid in battling degenerative eye diseases like glaucoma.
Dental and Bone Strengthener In addition to fighting inflammation in gums and tissues, pineapple skins have a high manganese content. Manganese helps to grow, strengthen, and repair bones and teeth. In terms of oral health, its vitamin C and astringent properties keep gums clean and healthy.
Anti-Cancer Some early studies have shown that skins’ amounts of manganese, vitamin C, bromelain, and antioxidants have the ability to fight tumors and aid in cancer prevention.
Good Blood Bromelain helps with preventing blood clots from forming, and the copper content in pineapple juice increases the formation of healthy red blood cells. Bits of potassium help the blood vessels stay healthy and can counteract large amounts of sodium, enabling the blood pressure to be stable.
Fertility Women who are looking to conceive usually pay close attention to their diet. Pineapple gets a lot of love because of its beta carotene and bromelain. Reducing inflammation in the womb helps create an ideal environment for implantation. Having warm liquids like the tea or broth listed below also support healthy fertility, and a pineapple dessert certainly wouldn’t hurt either.
How to prepare pineapple peels juice: Ingredients 1 whole pineapple, unpeeled 1 litre of water A natural sweetener of taste
Procedure: Wash the pineapple and separate the peel from the flesh. Put the peel in a pan filled with water and add some pineapple pulp, then boiled them together. Dilute the mixture in a litre of water and add natural sweetener to improve the taste.
Research conducted by the University of Ghana Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER), has indicated that Oil Palm has a huge economic potential that can significantly alleviate rural poverty.
According to the research, the Oil Palm sector does not only provide livelihoods to farmers but also many others along the value chain which include, operators, transporters, seed distributors, and agro-inputs sellers. The sector also employs between 1,000 and 3,000 contractors predominantly during harvesting.
This came to light during an Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) Project, a dissemination workshop organized by the University of Ghana Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER).
The workshop brought together key stakeholders, such as researchers, Regional and District Directors of Agriculture, Opinion leaders, Agricultural organizations, farmers, and farmer association in the
Western Region.
The workshop was to discuss a research project undertaken by a team of researchers from the University of Ghana to analyze the impact and outcomes of pathways to agricultural commercialisation on rural poverty, empowerment of women and girls, food and nutrition security in Ghana and across six other Sub- Saharan African countries.
Specifically, the research explored farmers engaged in oil palm commercialization arrangements, analysed the poverty implications of participants in the arrangements, and how these outcomes differed across different groups.
It also explained the relationships between different arrangements and resource allocation to other crops as well as the different arrangements and the varying effect on other farm and non-farm enterprises.
Dr. Kofi Takyi Asante Research Fellow at ISSER, who took the participants through the research findings, indicated that oil palm was selected for the research because it was considered a national priority crop because of its potentials for reducing poverty, its wide geographical coverage, and its use as both food and cash crop.
He pointed out that currently, the oil palm was the second most important out of 10 industrial crops, adding that between 2007-2019 oil palm grew from 680.781 metric tonnes to 1.896.760 metric tonnes creating about two million jobs across the value chain.
Dr. Asante said oil palm had a large growth potential but fortunately Ghana’s current crude palm oil production of 245 000 metric tonnes was unable to meet the global demand for the product.
He said the research took the team to oil palm growing Communities in the Western Region, oil palm companies such Benso oil palm plantation, Norpalm Ghana Limited, and B-BOVId processing factory.
The Research Fellow said in all 20 Communities in Mpohor and Ahanta West were selected of which 726 farming households were interviewed.
On Findings in oil palm commercialization, he explained that 27 percent of farmers had direct sales to oil palm companies, 33 percent sold their products through agents, 29 percent independently sold on the local market while 11 percent processed it into palm oil, alcohol, and soap.
The research also indicated that 5.2 percent of the farmers who had direct sales to Oil Palm Companies (OPCs) had more capital with proximity to Oil Palm Companies.
On livelihood outcomes, the research showed that farmers who sold their produce directly to the OPCs earned more and were happier, while those who sold through agents or sold independently on local markets were less happy.
The research revealed that there was a huge potential for enhancing the sector’s productivity, smallholder performance, and welfare access to financial and resources as well as the ability to deal directly with OPCs or independently process produce.
APRA is a five-year research programme that seeks to among other things impact rural poverty, empowerment of women and girls, food and nutrition security in sub-Sahara African.
