PRESS RELEASE. Pune, April 2018: A workshop to discuss setting up of Farming System for Nutrition models in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to address the problem of malnutrition was organised by ICAR-ATARI Pune in collaboration with the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) at KVK Narayangaon, Pune district on 24 April 2018. The models in the KVKs can be used for training farm men and women to adopt in their own fields. 

 

Farming System for Nutrition (FSN) is a model that entails mainstreaming the nutrition dimension in the design of the farming system based on locally available crop and animal husbandry resources and extant farming practices. MSSRF under the guidance of Professor M S Swaminathan has worked on demonstrating feasibility of the FSN approach in Wardha and Koraput districts, under the research programme on Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA). It is currently engaged in advocacy of the FSN approach in four states, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar with support from the Tata Trusts. 

 

The workshop brought together representatives from 10 districts and 11 KVKs in Maharashtra: Narayangaon (Pune district), Nanded I and II (Nanded district), Solapur, Nashik, Wardha, Washim, Latur, Beed, Aurangabad and Jalna districts and KVKs from Tapi and Valsad districts in Gujarat. The meeting commenced with an introduction to the concept of FSN and its need followed by a sharing of the FSN study in Wardha by researchers from MSSRF. The steps in the FSN design, viz. identifying the prevalent nutrition deficiencies, designing the farming system to address them, attention to aspects of processing and storage, sustainability, investing in nutrition literacy and leveraging agriculture for nutrition, and developing a monitoring framework were explained; information was given about the nutrition situation in the districts represented. Participants were then divided into four groups and asked to develop a FSN model for any one KVK for the forthcoming kharif season. Models were prepared for Tapi, Pune, Nanded and Aurangabad and presented for discussion. KVKs also proposed extending the work to villages in their area of operation. It was agreed that the remaining KVKs would prepare models for their districts and share the same.     

 

Dr. Lakhan Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Pune encouraged the participating KVKs to include the development of the FSN model on campus and its dissemination, in their action plan to be discussed at the upcoming Zonal workshop of KVKs in early May. He said that collaborative study may be planned to address the nutritional dimensions at KVK level. Nutrition literacy will make difference in changing the cropping pattern. Dr. Nagargoje, former DG, MCAER, Pune and Dr. Shirke, Director, Agril Extension, MCAER also participated.  Dr. R. Rukmani, Director, Food Security, Dr. R.V. Bhavani, Dr. G. Anuradha and Dr. Aliza Pradhan from MSSRF, Chennai oriented the KVK experts about Farming System for Nutrition approach. Dr. Prashant Shete, Head, KVK, Narayangaon coordinated the workshop.