ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar organized an off-campus farmers’ training programme on “Ensuring Nutritional Security of Rural Families through Women-friendly Nutri-Smart Gardens” on 24th December, 2024 in its Farmer FIRST Project adopted cluster comprising of three villages namely, Haridamada, Jamujhari and Barapita of Jatani and Bhubaneswar blocks in Khordha district Odisha. Above 50 women farmers actively participated in the programme. At the outset, Dr. S.K. Mishra, Principal Scientist & PI of the project highlighted on nutritional deficiency among rural masses due to ignorance on balanced diet as well as unavailability of low-cost nutri-rich foods at poor men’s rich. He emphasized on the need for establishing own nutri-gardens at backyards, which takes into account the nutritional requirements of family members to ensure nutritional security of family members. Dr. H.K. Dash, Principal Scientist & Co-PI briefed about the concept of sustainable kitchen gardening, its principles and techniques, appropriate use of backyard spaces and available resources, and earning additional family income, while growing year round nutritious fruits and vegetables. Dr. Prativa Sahu, Scientist & Co-PI explained in detail about daily dietary and calorie requirements for an individual and recommended proportions of ‘Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat, Vitamins and Minerals’ in regular food basket of a family as per ICMR and WHO guidelines. She described about the layout and designs for establishing a scientific nutri-smart garden, crop planning and cropping sequence in order to have a balanced meal at home for all family members including the most-needy members, i.e., pregnant and lactating mothers, with low investment, less labour requirement, which are free from chemical pesticides. She encouraged the farmer trainees to adopt nutri-smart garden farming. Later, critical inputs like, 60 nos. of ICAR-IIHR Nutri- garden vegetable seed kits consisting of four different crops, required bio-agent Trichoderma viridae for seed treatment and extension literature on ‘scientific nutri-gardening’ were distributed to the participating farmwomen. Ms. Isha Anindita Sahoo, SRF arranged and coordinated local logistics and at the end, proposed the vote of thanks.
