Lok Sabha Question No. 34 (STARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Nutrition Smart Village Programme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Rahul Ramesh Shewale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 34

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2021

## NUTRITION SMART VILLAGE PROGRAMME

* 34 SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to strengthen the Poshan Abhiyan through the Nutrition Smart Village programme in the country;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  identify  villages  across  the  country through the network of All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture (AICRP-WIA);
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the criteria fixed for selection/identification of villages for the said purpose;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  evaluated  the  initiative  before  its  launch  in  the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the outcome of such evaluation and the extent to which such initiatives have strengthened India's campaign against malnutrition?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 34 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2021 REGARDING 'NUTRITION SMART VILLAGE PROGRAMME'

(a) & (b):   The Nutri Smart Village programme is implemented by ICAR- Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA) along with its 13 All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture (AICRP-WIA) Centres in 75 villages located in 23 districts of 13 states of the country to strengthen the Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN Abhiyaan).

- (c) Important indicators taken for selection of villages are as under:
- i. Nutritional status (Poor consumption pattern and low dietary intake): Identification of the nutrition issues based on data obtained by regular national monitoring  and  surveillance  of  the  consumption  pattern,  dietary  intake  and nutritional status of the population conducted by Primary Health Centres.
- ii. Accessibility of the villages: The villages should be located within 50 KMs radius from the implementing organization for regular monitoring.
- iii. Prevalence  of  mono-cropping  and  low  crop  diversification:  Scope  for  crop diversification increases the dietary diversity at household level with an aim to reduce incidence of malnutrition.
- iv. Non-existence  or  overlapping  of  other  nutrition-based  programme by  other government and non-government agencies.
- v. Scope for conducting nutrition awareness programme:  shall be conducted at individual as well as household levels through methods like trainings, demonstrations,  health  camps,  Focused  Group  Discussions  on  issues  like malnutrition, anemia, balanced diets, related health illness etc.

(d) A number of research studies have been undertaken by ICAR- CIWA and AICRP on Women in Agriculture establishing the agri-nutrition linkage. During X Plan period a project on 'Sustainable Approaches for Nutritional Security' was carried out in which Nutri-gardens were promoted and assessment was done for the nutrition status of farm families.  Also,  during  XII  Plan  period,  project  on  'Nutritional  Security  and  Health Promotion of Farm Families' was implemented to address the micronutrient deficiencies in operational villages.

(e) The AICRP on Women in Agriculture under its various projects like ' Sustainable Approaches for Nutritional Security' and ' Nutritional Security and Health Promotion of Farm Families' promoted homestead nutri-gardens in 65 villages involving  3250 farm families. The food and nutrient intake of families was studied and it was found that 60 per cent of farm families consumed greens cultivated from their nutri-gardens which helped in increasing the micronutrient intake and prevented the incidence of malnutrition. The expenditure pattern on food items in farm families were also assessed and it was found that there was a reduction in expenditure by 50 per cent on these food items. Under the projects,  Nutri-gardens  were  also  established  in  schools  and  villages,  nutrition education awareness programmes were conducted in operational villages, low cost locally available food products especially millet-based nutri food products for management  of  undernutrition  and  obesity  were  formulated  and  promoted.  The programme  of  Nutri  Smart  Villages  has  shown  that  people's  participation  through agricultural interventions is essential to achieve the goal of Kuposhan Mukt Bharat .

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