Nutrition through KVKs by Operationalizing Farming System

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. A workshop to discuss setting up of Farming System for Nutrition models in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to address the problem of malnutrition was organized by Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute(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.  The workshop brought together representatives from 10 districts and 11 KVKs from Maharashtra and Gujarat.

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.

Dr. Lakhan Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Pune urged 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.  Experts  from MSSRF, Chennai oriented the KVK experts about Farming System for Nutrition approach.