Food processing plant to help East Timor's malnourished

PHOTO

Four East Timorese children carrying baskets of food walk on the shore of Dili. The World Food Programme says the Dili plant will cut the cost of distributing fortified foods, create jobs and provide a market for small farmers. [Reuters]

Last Updated: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:27:00 +1000

East Timor's first food processing plant has begun producing blended foods tailored to the nutritional needs of the country.

The United Nations' World Food Programme says the Dili plant will cut the cost of distributing fortified foods, create jobs and provide a market for small farmers.

The Programme's country director Joan Fleuren says starting the operation in East Timor, one of Asia's poorest countries, was a risky venture.

But he's told Radio Australia Today it was the only solution to the risks the WFP was already facing to get fortified food supplements to malnourished mothers and children.

"What we are giving to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants and young children is a blend of corn and soya mixed with sugar and oils and fortified with 17 minerals and vitamins that are crucial for early child development," he said.

"So the factory is producing it all in one all in one small bag that women can easily take with them from the clinics, and that is easy to cook."