Work

Nutrient Intake of Rural Households That Participated in a Farming System for Nutrition Study in India

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Food based approach can prove effective in improving access and availability of nutrients from foods required for daily life where most of the people depend on agriculture for their livelihood. A study on feasibility of Farming Systems for Nutrition (FSN) approach was undertaken from 2013 to 2018 in a few villages of Koraput district, Odisha state and Wardha district, Maharashtra state in India. Interventions were done to increase crop diversity, intercropping of pulses and cereals, promotion of seasonal vegetables and fruits along with nutrition awareness. The endline survey showed increase in production diversity leading to improved household dietary diversity. This paper demonstrates the impact of FSN interventions on household nutrient intake. The results show that the intake of nutrients like protein, vitamin C, iron and calcium increased significantly in Koraput and all the nutrients including energy and vitamin A increased significantly in Wardha. The evidence shows that Farming System for Nutrition approach improves individual nutrient intake which in the long run can address the problem of undernutrition.

Source: Food and Nutrition Sciences

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2021.123022

Authors: D. J. Nithya, S. Raju, R. V. Bhavani, Akshaya Kumar Panda, Rupal D. Wagh, Brinda Viswanathan

Institutions: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, University of Madras

Language: English

Topic: Child Nutrition and Water Access

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being, No poverty

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Government of the United Kingdom