Ms Nanyunja studied about egg shells and discovered that processed egg shells can be used as a calcium supplement to improve health and consequently, the monetary value of poultry farming

Egg shells constitute 93 percent calcium carbonate, a source of calcium, which is a valuable nutrient required by our bodies to develop and keep our bones strong.

This was revealed by Jessica Nanyunja, a graduate of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Kyambogo University and the proprietor of Harmony Nutrition Centre in Nateete Church Zone.

Nanyunja studied about egg shells as her research project in partial fulfilment of her degree requirements. She discovered that processed egg shells can be used as a calcium supplement to improve our health and consequently, the monetary value of poultry farming.

"I realised that poultry farming was on the increase but egg shells were put to waste. I also realised that farmers would get more money from the sale of eggs if the shells were of some economic value. These among other factors encouraged me to do a deeper analysis of egg shells to establish the best way to promote their use for the benefit of the poultry farmers and to tap the rather wasted calcium source," says Nanyunja.

Income source

Presenting her research findings, Nayunja prepared a nutri-paste of egg shell powder and honey and presented it to a panel of lecturers. "They all liked it and that is why I am advising people to supplement their calcium intake with egg shell powder. Moreover once adopted, the monetary value of eggs will increase and subsequently farmers' incomes will improve" she says.

Her next step is to establish the recommended daily allowance for the different age groups, flavour the egg shell powder to suit the varied interests of customers and expand the production scale.

To support the efficacy of her research findings further, Nanyunja says that, "one of my very first clients has so far consumed two 400g tins of egg shell powder, and she can now walk without the support of clutches like she used to. "The calcium supplement is user friendly, one just adds a pinch of the powder to their daily meals," she adds.

Nutritious

Nanyunja collects egg shells from nearby bakeries, washes and process them into powder for sale. Each 400g tin costs Shs10,000.

She is also promoting katunkuma (tiny bitter tomatoes) and pumpkin seed powder consumption as a good sources of zinc. She also believes this is a cost effective way of widening the market for pumpkins and katunkuma for the benefit of the farmers.

She got the idea of processing and adding value to these foods during her internship training in Mengo Hospital.

"I realised that there is a big market for a wide range of produce especially for profucts that are highly nutritious.

All we need to do is unveil the nutritional value of the different foods and address the accessibility challenges.

Diabetic patients for example are advised to eat high fibre foods such as brown rice to stimulate their insulin sensitivity in the body, but accessing such foods is a challenge to many people." Nanyunja reveals who has since embarked on research to establish cheap and locally available foods that can serve the same purpose.

"Roasted pumpkin seeds are good sources of fibre and zinc amongst other nutrients required by the body. The Zinc reduces chances of catching prostate cancer and it boosts fertility in both men and women," she says, adding that unlike many of the recommended options, pumpkin seeds can be accessed by even the poorest especially those living in rural areas. Nayunja buys pumpkins from Ms Miriam Namatovu, a 60-year-old farmer in Nakyesanja village Bulamu sub-county in Mityana District.

After extracting the pumpkin seeds, the fruit is sold to nearby schools. "I have so far earned over Shs100,000 from the pumpkins I planted on a 3-acre farm. I can now buy whatever I want and easily pay for the labour services to maintain my gardens," says Namatovu.

Katunkuma is yet another zinc rich food and it also provides the essential nutrients recommended for the people suffering from blood pressure. The zinc enhances vessel dilation and improves the blood circulation in the body.

Henry Biryande Irumba, an enrolled nurse now working as the dispensing officer at Pharmatec Pharmacy in Old Kampala confirms that katunkuma is good for everybody who wishes to guard against poor blood flow-related problems.

"It is now three months since my father Mr Ezekiel Muloho started eating steamed katunkuma to complement his blood pressure treatment, as advised by the doctor.

The rate at which his health is improving is much better than before," Biryande says. Nanyunja however says that while many people would have liked to eat katunkuma, it is not always available in markets because it is seasonal.

The other problem is that its shelf life is too short and inevitably, customers buy only what can be consumed in two or three days. This creates a big gap which according to her can only be closed by processing the katunkuma. The powder lasts for over six months and one can use it daily irrespective of whether they are at home or not.

"Some of my customers work in banks or other professional jobs. They know the value of katunkuma and want to consume it but because of their tight schedules, they cannot access it fresh in the market. So I pack 400g-tinned katunkuma powder and sell it to them at Shs5,000." Initially, Nayunja used to buy fresh katunkuma from Nateete market.

However, she could not get enough to satisfy her customers. "I have now identified several farmers to buy from and also planted my own katunkuma garden.

The enthusiastic farmer says she was inspired to initiate a business that could help farmers a few years ago, when she visited her mother in Arua. "I realised that bee farmers harvested a lot of honey which they were not able to sell because they lacked market.

On my way back, I got a 5-litre container of honey, sieved it and packed it in simple plastic containers. I sold all the honey to the students in just one day.

The money I earned motivated me to continue with the business," Nanyunja says, adding that the demand grew with time.

She has since explored the opportunities of adding value to agricultural produce and has discovered a great wealth potential that lies untapped. In fact processing agricultural produce can speed up the realisation of the goals of the Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA).

PMA emphasises among other things focusing on farming as a business rather than subsistence as one of the means to transform lives of the over 80 percent Ugandans employed by the agricultural sector.

According to Nanyunja, farming as a business means profit oriented investment in agricultural enterprises and such can only succeed with effective demand.

Whenever the demand is lower than the supply, the quality and value of the produce is compromised and such losses demoralise the farmers.

Such frustrations can be overcome by empowering the farmers with post harvest management knowledge and skills that can help increase the shelf life of the farmer's produce and enhance the monetary value of the produce.

"The prospects for all my products are big. But the biggest challenge is how to match the demand, given the little capital I have. What's encouraging however is that through exhibitions and sensitisation meetings usually held at Harmony Nutrition Centre, many people appreciate the need to supplement their diets."