Nutrigarden: Approach to enhance food and nutritional security of farm families in semi-arid region of Rajasthan

Abstract

A nutrition garden is perceived as space around the house where one can grow different herbs, vegetables and fruits for daily household use, thereby making the family self-reliant and assuring availability, accessibility and stable supply of sufficient, safe and nutritious food for their utilization. The present study was conducted in the KVK jurisdiction areas of Churu district where nutri garden intervention was demonstrated at farmer’s field in adopted villages. Using the random selection technique, 100 female beneficiaries were chosen from the entire population of 1200 beneficiaries. A further fifty female recipients who did not have a nutrition garden were chosen using a straightforward selection procedure. The study revealed that there was availability of nutrition on after establishment of gardens by the beneficiaries. There was significant increase of nutrients per day were recorded after intervention of the model nutrition gardens. Results presented that 29.42% folic acid, 62.85% iron, 37.69% calcium, 83.02% beta-carotene, 357.47% vitamin C and 9.3% proteins were additionally available to recommended dietary allowances of the respondents comparing the practices adopted by farmers.