LANSA's first initiative using video to communicate with stakeholders

Sangeetha Rajeesh made a short film, about an intervention pioneered by MSSRF, to communicate with agriculture-nutrition stakeholders particularly in India. 

The film was produced to introduce the Farming Systems for Nutrition initiative and its underlying research principles. The short documentary underlines the importance of tackling undernutrition in India.   

Farming System for Nutrition

Farming System for Nutrition a study under LANSA's research that examines feasibility and effectiveness of nutrition sensitive agricultural interventions. The initiative integrates income enhancement with the production of nutritious crops (both natural and bio-fortified), livestock, poultry, fisheries and agro-forestry. It provides an holistic approach to tackling undernutrition by addressing the nutritional needs of farm and non-farm families based on their personal assets, market conditions and community preferences, combining this with nutrition literacy.

The film

The idea behind the short film was to convey both the purpose and the process involved in the Farming System for Nutrition intervention. It highlights small successes on the ground while documenting the outline undertaken in the two study locations of rural India. The film was well received when it was screened at the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) South-Pacific Conference held at MSSRF, Chennai in August, and later at the Roundtable on Agriculture and Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Faislabad, Pakistan..

The video is Research Uptake has shared the link on LANSA’s social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) as part of our communication dissemination plan. But, more importantly, the film is being shown at every Stakeholder Engagement meeting and event, both at regional and national level, as well as at the Technical Platforms developed under FSN for policy-makers, researchers, academics, NGOs, donors and farmer associations. Within MSSRF, the film was screened for researchers and staff as part of the ‘National Nutrition Week’ celebrations in September this year, and was much appreciated.  

These efforts have helped reiterate the apathy towards nutrition in India and acknowledge the glaring gaps between agriculture and nutrition. The film created curiosity around LANSA’s work in the country and region, and of course, high interest in Farming System for Nutrition as a possible holistic way out.