It is difficult for Danilo to get the energy he needs from the root crops his family are relying on. His teacher, Teacher Sweet, has noticed that Danilo struggles to overcome his hunger while he is in school.
“He goes to school, but he is not participating and there are times he feels very weak and uninterested. Sometimes, he leaves the classroom to look for something to eat, like fruit from nearby trees, or he would actually go home because he did not bring any food. In a week, he would be lucky to be able to bring some ground corn for lunch. Because of poverty, his family can only afford corn, banana, or root crops that they themselves plant in their backyard.”
Root crops are relied upon within the community, as they are simple, affordable and able to withstand flooding – a common occurrence for villages in Agusan Del Sur. However, such heavy reliance on root vegetables is putting people at risk of malnourishment.