Lok Sabha Question No. 603 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Thirumaa Valavan Thol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 603

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## NUTRITION SENSITIVE AGRICULTURE

603. SHRI THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  scheme  or  policy  framed  to  implement  Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  programme  in  support  with  Food  and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to promote Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (d): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has implemented a programme on 'Nutri-Smart Village' to reach out to 75 villages across India through the network of All India  Coordinated  Research  Project  on  Women  in  Agriculture.  The  objectives  of  the programme are promoting nutritional awareness, education and behavioural change in rural areas involving farm women and school children, harnessing traditional knowledge through the  local  recipe  to  overcome  malnutrition  and  implementing  nutrition-sensitive  agriculture through  homestead  agriculture  and  Nutri-garden.  Concerted  efforts  have  led  to  the development of 150 biofortified varieties, including 132 field crop and 18 horticultural crop varieties, which are nutritionally rich. ICAR has also implemented Nutri-Sensitive Agricultural Resources  and  Innovations  (NARI)  Programme  through  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra  (KVKs)  for creating  awareness  on  health  and  nutrition  literacy.  KVKs  conducted  on-farm  trials, technology demonstrations on nutri rich biofortified varieties, trainings and various extension activities  under  NARI  programme.  KVKs  organized  different  training  programmes  and extension activities under different areas like promotion of nutrition garden, nutri-thali, valueaddition, bio-fortified crops, etc. Biofortified varieties are also promoted under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), which is being implemented for increasing the production of Pulses, Rice, Wheat, Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley) and Nutri Cereals (Shree Anna). The Government of Indian has celebrated the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM) to promote the Millets (Shree Anna) which have high nutritive value. Under the Scheme 'Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms' state governments efforts are supported to make available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied sector including Nutrition  Sensitive  Agriculture  among  farmers  through  farmers  training,  demonstrations, exposure  visits,  kisan  mela,  mobilization  of  Farmer  Interest  Groups,  Women  Food  and Nutritional groups and setting-up of Farm School in the field of awardees farmers. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has collaborated with government agencies, training institutions, and other partners in India to advance the agenda of nutrition-sensitive

agriculture and agrifood systems in the country.

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