Achieving Nutritional Security through Nutri-garden in Rural Areas of Nawada District, Bihar

After independence, food production within India was not sufficient to meet the demand of growing population. With the green revolution, high yielding varieties of cereals was introduced and investment in agricultural productivity alleviated poverty to large extent and promotes food security (Nelson et al., 2019). But access to only enough calories and not to nutritionally adequate diet rich in essential nutrients by the poor population results in persistently high rates of malnutrition among children. The most vulnerable population are children under 5 years and pregnant and lactating women as nutritional requirement for essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamin A, zinc etc. are high during these periods (Ruel, 2013). This can be evidenced by comparing NFHS- 5 with NFHS – 4 data. Children malnutrition can be mainly defined by three indicators namely stunting, wasting and underweight. Analysis indicated that there has been only slight reduction in percentage of wasted, stunted and underweight children from fourth (2015- 16) to fifth round (2019-21) of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data. Iron deficiency anaemia is most common among Indian population. Anaemia has adverse affect on child health and women of reproductive age (15-49 years) thereby resulting in increased maternal and child death. Public distribution system (PDS), mid-day meal scheme (MMD) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) were started to resolve the issue of malnutrition among women and children in India. But, a significant percentage of the vulnerable population suffers from malnutrition despite the implementation of these programmes.
       
In India, nearly 60 per cent of the rural population is agriculture dependent. Still nutritional problem is persistent among population especially among women and children. Availability of nutritious food, diversity in the food and enhancing the purchasing power of the population may results in achieving better nutritional status. Introducing the concept of nutri-garden at household and community level is not a new concept. Kitchen garden concept was there in ancient times also, but over the years, kitchen garden lose their importance and gradually disappeared. Now, linking the kitchen garden with nutrition results in Nutri-garden. With this view, kitchen garden is being introduced among farm women with new name “Nutri- garden” where nutritionally adequate healthy fruits and vegetables should be grown by farm families for meeting their nutritional requirement. According to WHO, every individual should consume at least 400 gm of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. Considering the various points mentioned above, the study was planned with the objective to increase the availability of vegetables in rural household and to improve the knowledge of rural farm women regarding layout, technological and nutritional aspect of nutri- garden.

A nutri-garden based community level intervention was carried out by Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the nine villages of Kawakol block of Nawada district during the year 2022- 23. The aim was to develop initially nine nutri- smart village on pilot basis and for that purpose, ten anganwadi centres and three backyard / kitchen garden were selected. The whole work was segmented into three parts. Initially, six training programmes were conducted in six villages of kawakol block that were selected under nutri- smart village covering 180 respondents. Training was imparted and pre- and post- evaluation was done for evaluating the change in knowledge of farm women regarding various aspects of nutri- garden. Questionnaire was used for pre - and post- evaluation. Questions were divided into three sections: a) Importance of nutri-garden; b) Land preparation and layout; c) Knowledge about appropriate sowing methods.

In the second phase of the programme, vegetable seeds were distributed to the ten anganwadi workers of the selected anganwadi centres and to the three farm women covering 115 respondents. Vegetable seeds were distributed in Zaid, Kharif and Rabi season. Impact of established nutri- garden in rural household was assessed by calculating the per cent change in the check and demonstration yield during Zaid, Kharif and Rabi season as well as BCR (benefit to cost ratio) for demonstration and check yield during the three seasons.
 

Nutri- garden was implemented throughout the year during Rabi, Kharif and Zaid season. Vegetables grown during Zaid season consist of green leafy vegetables (GLVs) such as Spinach and amaranthus and other vegetables such as brinjal, beans, bitter gourd, smooth gourd, pumpkin, ridge gourd, cucumber and lady’s finger.
       
Average per unit production with per cent change in the yield between demonstration unit and check unit of vegetables in Zaid, Kharif and Rabi season is presented in Table 1. Results of the study clearly shows more than five per cent increased yield in demonstration unit in comparison to farmer’s field for majority of vegetables grown during zaid season. During kharif season, green leafy vegetables (GLVs) such as amaranthus and coriander and other vegetables such as bitter gourd, radish, lady’s finger, smooth gourd, pumpkin, brinjal, tomato and green chilli were produced in the nutri-garden. During kharif period, increased yield was seen in demonstration unit in comparison to farmer’s field for all vegetables. For vegetables such as amaranthus, radish, bitter gourd, coriander and green chilli, 12-22 per cent increased yield was seen in demonstration unit in comparison to check unit. Vegetables such as spinach, peas, cauliflower, radish, carrot, pumpkin, tomato and chillies were produced in rabi season. Higher crop yield was seen in demonstration unit for majority of vegetables.
 

       
Benefit to cost ratio (BCR) for demonstration and check yield during Zaid, Kharif and Rabi season are presented in Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4 respectively. Benefit to cost ratio (BCR) ranges between 0.05 to 1.06 for demonstration unit and between 0.08 to 0.28 for check unit i.e. farmer’s field during Zaid season. BCR ratio for demonstration yield was higher for vegetables such as spinach, brinjal, beans, bitter gourd, pumpkin, ridge gourd, cucumber and lady’s finger in comparison to check yield. Benefit to cost ratio (BCR) for kharif crop ranges between 0.05 to 2.58 for demonstration unit and between 0.03 to 1.18 for check unit. In comparison to check yield, BCR ratio for demonstration yield was higher for all vegetables except for the radish during kharif season. Huge difference was seen in the crop yield between demonstration unit and check unit for majority of vegetables during rabi season. Benefit to cost ratio (BCR) ranges from 0.01 for radish to 2.18 for tomatoes in demonstration unit. BCR ratio for check unit lies between 0.01 - 1.92. In comparison to check yield, BCR ratio for demonstration yield was higher for all vegetables except for the radish during rabi season.
 

 

 

       
Higher crop yield during the three seasons in demonstration unit in comparison to check unit for majority of vegetables can be attributed to use of vermicompost in proper amount (Islam et al., 2021), regular monitoring of demonstration unit by nutrition and agriculture scientist and timely spray of the insecticides and pesticides as per the need. Vermicompost enhances the nutrient content of the soil resulting in higher growth and productivity in the demo unit of the farmer’s field.
 
Training
 
Nutri-gardens have gained prominence as a valuable source of nutrition at household level. Integrating training on nutri-garden practices can significantly contribute to better performance and well-being of individuals. This holistic approach not only addresses nutritional needs but also brings change in the attitude of the people and helps the family to carry out the work more efficiently and effectively through improved knowledge and skill.
       
Pre- evaluation, then training followed by post-evaluation is assessment tools that helps in evaluating the learning outcomes, knowledge gaps, and behaviour changes of trainees before and after the training. Data on changes in the knowledge of participants before and after training on various aspects of kitchen gardening is presented in Table 5. Before training was imparted to farm women, only 8% women had knowledge that nutri- garden can help in women empowerment; only 16% had knowledge that home grown vegetables are free from harmful pesticides and insecticides; whereas only 19% had knowledge that vegetables grown in nutri-garden are free from artificial colours. After training, knowledge of the farm women was enhanced that can be evidenced from the fact that more than 90% of the women had gained knowledge on various aspects of importance of nutri- garden.
 

       
Knowledge of the farm women was evaluated about nutri- garden land preparation and layout through pre- evaluation questionnaire. None of the women had knowledge that the preferred shape for nutri-garden should be square or rectangle; neither had they any idea regarding vermicompost preparation method and its beneficial impact on the farmer’s field. Only 7% had idea that vermicompost should be used in nutri- garden and 16% of farm women knows that Nutri- garden area should have availability of sunlight throughout the day. Improvement in the knowledge of farm women was noticed post training as nearly 80% of the women had knowledge on all aspects of nutri- garden land preparation and layout.
       
Through training, farm women gained knowledge about appropriate sowing method of vegetables. 25% of the farm women had low level of knowledge about appropriate sowing method of vegetables before training. After training with KVK, majority of respondents (>82%) got knowledge that radish, spinach, bittergourd like vegetables are grown by seed sowing method whereas seeds of transplanted crops like tomato, chilli, brinjal should be sown in nursery beds one month in advance and after one month of sowing, seedlings are removed from nursery and transplanted in the nutri- garden beds.
       
Training program enhances the awareness of farm women regarding various nutritional aspects and economic benefits of nutri-garden. Farm women understanding the nutritional benefits of the crops they grow, increases the likely of these fresh and nutrient-rich foods to be incorporated in their family’s daily meals. This can lead to improved dietary practices and overall better health outcomes.
 
Nutrient availability
 
Average per capita availability of nutrients from vegetables grown in zaid, kharif and rabi season are presented in Table 6. One of the primary objectives to develop nutri- smart village having nutri- garden is to ensure nutritionally adequate diet at the household level. By comparing the NFHS - 4 data with NFHS - 5 data regarding nutritional status of the children under 5 years, it can be seen that although stunting, wasting and underweight percentage decline from 2015-16 to 2019-21 but the percentage of occurrence of disease in the population is still high. Protein and micronutrient deficiency among children results in PEM. Establishment of nutri-garden under front line demonstration ensures approximately 221.25 gms, 384.38 gms and 347.06 gms of per capita availability of protein during Zaid, Kharif and Rabi season, respectively. WHO recognized anaemia as global health problem resulting in several health consequences (World Health Organization, 2004).  Prevalence of anaemia among children under 5 years, pregnant and lactating women increases from 2016 to 2021 (GOI, 2021). Despite of multifactorial pathophysiology of anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia is most prevalent (Warner and Kamran, 2022). Ascorbic acid is reported to be a potent enhancer of iron absorption (Milman, 2020). Ascorbic acid facilitates iron absorption in small intestine. Increased per capita availability of iron and ascorbic acid was also seen with the establishment of nutri- garden ensuring approximately 212.17 mg, 333.93 mg and 149.88 mg of iron and 2934.76 mg, 6633.46 mg and 4577.17 mg of ascorbic acid per capita availability during Zaid, kharif and rabi season, respectively.


       
According to the WHO, millions of children suffer from vitamin A deficiency in developing countries (Wiseman et al., 2017). β-carotene is the precursor for vitamin A (Krinsky and Johnson, 2005). Food-based approaches and supplementation are the ways for combating vitamin A deficiency in the population. Sustainable food-based approaches through nutri-garden can be portrayed as effective method for combating vitamin A deficiency in long term. Per capita availability of beta carotene after establishment of nutri-garden under NARI project was approximately 179695.2 mcg, 294246.5 mcg and 134636.19 mcg during Zaid, kharif and rabi season, respectively. Both calcium and vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in India resulting in rickets in children; osteoporosis and osteomalacia in adults. Per capita availability of calcium was also found to be enhanced among study population with the establishment of the nutri- garden.

Nutri-garden is highly beneficial in achieving nutritional security at household level by increasing the vegetable intake. Training on nutri-gardens offers a multifaceted approach to enhancing the performance of farm women. By addressing nutritional, physical and mental well-being, nutri-garden practices contribute to a holistic approach to development. Integrating training programs along with the establishment of nutri-garden in farm families can lead to healthier environment by increasing production and intake with use of appropriate technical know-how.

The authors express gratitude to the Director, ATARI (Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute), Patna for the financial contribution that helps in establishment of nutri-smart village with the establishment of the nutri-garden.

The authors report no conflict of interest.