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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

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Abhijeet Mishra

Abhijeet Mishra is a Research Fellow in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. Abhijeet’s research interests include future sustainable pathways for the global land-use system and the trade-offs between land-based mitigation, food security, and other sustainable development goals.

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Nutrition, Diets, and Health

Kenda Cunningham

Senior Research Fellow

Bio

Kenda Cunningham is a Senior Research Fellow with the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, and is working in an outposted capacity.

Nutrition, Diets, and Health

Publications

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Brief

Vegetable intake among women of reproductive age in northern Tanzania: Baseline findings from the FRESH end-to-end evaluation

2026Azupogo, Fusta; Hess, Sonja Y.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; Jeremiah, Kidola; Malindisa, Evangelista; Kinabo, Joyce; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Vegetable intake among women of reproductive age in northern Tanzania: Baseline findings from the FRESH end-to-end evaluation

Adequate intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V) is fundamental to meeting micronutrient requirements, reducing the risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases, and supporting overall health and well-being. The World Health Organization recommends a minimum daily intake of 400 g of F&V, whereas the Tanzania Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) advise a daily intake of approximately 280 g each of fruit and vegetables to promote healthy living. Intake of F&V in Tanzania and many other low- and middle-income countries, however, remains substantially below recommended levels. In sub-Saharan Africa, diets are frequently dominated by staple cereals and tubers, with limited dietary diversity and low intake of nutrient-dense foods, including F&V. In Tanzania, women of reproductive age (WRA) are at high risk of micronutrient deficiencies, including iron, folate, vitamins A, C and B12. These inadequacies impair immune function, increase susceptibility to infection, and contribute to iron-deficiency anaemia, fatigue, and reduced productivity. During pregnancy, poor micronutrient status elevates the risk of maternal morbidity, preterm birth, low birth weight, and impaired fetal growth. During lactation, inadequate status may reduce the micronutrient content of breast milk, potentially compromising infant growth and immune function.

Year published

2026

Authors

Azupogo, Fusta; Hess, Sonja Y.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; Jeremiah, Kidola; Malindisa, Evangelista; Kinabo, Joyce; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Azupogo, Fusta; Hess, Sonja Y.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; et al. 2026. Vegetable intake among women of reproductive age in northern Tanzania: Baseline findings from the FRESH end-to-end evaluation. Tanzania Evaluation Research Brief 6. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/183404

Keywords

Tanzania; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Vegetables; Food Intake; Feeding Habits; Reproductive Performance; Gender

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Brief

Fruit intake among women of reproductive age in northern Tanzania: Baseline findings from the FRESH end-to-end evaluation

2026Hess, Sonja Y.; Azupogo, Fusta; Bliznashka, Lilia; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; Jeremiah, Kidola; Malindisa, Evangelista; Kinabo, Joyce; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Fruit intake among women of reproductive age in northern Tanzania: Baseline findings from the FRESH end-to-end evaluation

To ensure overall health and reduce risk of non-communicable disease (NCDs), a healthy diet low in fat, sugars and salt and high in fruit and vegetables (F&V) is recommended. In most population groups, however, F&V intake is below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of 400 g per person/day. In Tanzania, a recent scoping review found that F&V intake was below recommended levels in all population groups examined. Low F&V intake is due to a complex interplay of desirability, affordability, accessibility and availability. The CGIAR Research Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH), now under the CGIAR Science Program on Better Diets and Nutrition (BDN), is designing an end-to-end approach to be evaluated in Northern Tanzania, as previously described in the Research Brief 1. A baseline survey was implemented, and dietary intake and nutrient adequacies among women of reproductive age (WRA, 15-49 years of age) participating in the baseline survey were summarized elsewhere. Here we provide a deep dive into fruit intake among these women.

Year published

2026

Authors

Hess, Sonja Y.; Azupogo, Fusta; Bliznashka, Lilia; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; Jeremiah, Kidola; Malindisa, Evangelista; Kinabo, Joyce; Cunningham, Kenda; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Hess, Sonja Y.; Azupogo, Fusta; Bliznashka, Lilia; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; et al. 2026. Fruit intake among women of reproductive age in northern Tanzania: Baseline findings from the FRESH end-to-end evaluation. Tanzania Evaluation Research Brief 5. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/182416

Keywords

Tanzania; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Fruits; Nutrient Intake; Reproductive Performance; Women; Gender

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Brief

Energy and macronutrient intake among women of reproductive age: Baseline findings from the FRESH End-to-End Evaluation

2025Bliznashka, Lilia; Azupogo, Fusta; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; Jeremiah, Kidola; Malindisa, Evangelista; Kinabo, Joyce; Cunningham, Kenda; Hess, Sonja; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Energy and macronutrient intake among women of reproductive age: Baseline findings from the FRESH End-to-End Evaluation

In Tanzania, unhealthy diets are a major contributor to non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Tanzanian diets are generally cereal-based and low in fruit and vegetables (F&V) and animal sourced foods. With rising incomes, consumption of energy-dense processed and ultra-processed foods has increased, reaching 694 kg/year per adult in 2019. Among women of reproductive age (WRA), daily energy intake is also increasing. Although nationally representative data are lacking, individual studies indicate an increase over time from 1,347 kcal/day in 2014 to 1,631 kcal/day in 2015/16 and 2,174 kcal/day in 2022. The CGIAR Research Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH), now under the CGIAR Science Program on Better Diets and Nutrition (BDN), uses an end-to-end approach, described in more detail in Research Brief 1, that combines demand, food environment, and supply interventions to increase desirability, affordability, accessibility, and availability of F&V. In Tanzania, an ongoing impact evaluation is testing the effectiveness of this end-to-end approach in improving F&V intake and vegetable production across 33 villages in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. In this research brief, we describe baseline findings on the energy and macronutrient intake among WRA in the study area.

Year published

2025

Authors

Bliznashka, Lilia; Azupogo, Fusta; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; Jeremiah, Kidola; Malindisa, Evangelista; Kinabo, Joyce; Cunningham, Kenda; Hess, Sonja; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Bliznashka, Lilia; Azupogo, Fusta; Arnold, Charles D.; Djuazon, Nelly; Jeremiah, Kidola; et al. 2025. Energy and macronutrient intake among women of reproductive age: Baseline findings from the FRESH End-to-End Evaluation. Tanzania Evaluation Research Brief 4. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178621

Keywords

Tanzania; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Nutrient Intake; Macronutrients; Women; Reproductive Performance; Capacity Building

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Brief

Events

Better Diets & Nutrition Webinar Series Session 2: Demand Creation for Fruits and Vegetables
IFPRI Program/Country Event

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January 28, 2026, 9:00 – 10:30 am

Better Diets & Nutrition Webinar Series Session 2: Demand Creation for Fruits and Vegetables

Healthy diets are essential for promoting well-being and preventing nutrient deficiencies and diet-related diseases. Fruits and vegetables play a critical role by providing essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and bioactive compounds, while generally having a lower environmental footprint than many other foods. Despite their importance, global fruit and vegetable consumption remains well below the World […]