Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) - Nutrition in Mountain Agro Ecosystems (NMA) Best Practices 27 February 2018
Background of the project activities Nutrition in Mountain Agro-ecosystems (NMA) project implemented by HELVETAS with consortium partnership between IFOAM Organics International and FIBL Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Consider the vulnerability of malnutrition particularly due to limited diversification of crop production, insufficient nutrient intake, behavior change communication, poor dietary diversification, poor water sanitation and hygiene, and poverty and awareness. Pilot project: June 2015 to May 2018 District covered: Dailekh, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Jumla, Mugu, Achham, Bajura, and Banke
Objectives of the Study Conduct the rapid field review of the MNA project interventions. Identify the good practices and challenges of the project activities. Priorities the key issues for national campaign and identify key actors, right holders to be engaged for these issues. Sharing the findings among concern stakeholders to finalize agenda for national level panel discussion.
Methodology Study approach : Qualitative Techniques Adopted Total number Interviewee Key Informants Interview 22 DADO, DHO, Livestock office, DDC, RSPs, and Beneficiaries. Focus Group Discussion 2 Beneficiaries Observation visit (District and site) 2 districts and 4 local sites Project sites
Thematic Intervention Thematic Interventions Working District 1. School Nutrition Garden Mugu, Dailekh 2. Household level Homestead garden promotion Kalikot, Achham 3. Promotion of diversified food items Dailekh, Kalikot 4. Promotion of common grain legumes for nutrition improvement Jajarkot, Bajura 5. Improving nutrition through organic manure Banke 6. Honey production and marketing Jajarkot 7. Consumption, processing and marketing of nettle Dailekh 8.Media for nutrition improvement Dailekh, Jajarkot
Findings
1. School Nutrition Garden Good practices Challenges Local Nutrition education curriculum developed Problem of water supply and nursery Regular teaching regarding importance of kitchen garden Establishment of Kitchen garden within School premises to showcase school students Regular demonstration (cooking) to share importance of nutritious value of vegetable cultivated in school nutrition garden- District Education Office appreciated it and included NSA in local curriculum in Mugu and Dailkh 12 schools in Jajarkot started school Nutrition garden Local agri-products included in day school meal in few school of Mugu districts Promotion of one house, one kitchen garden campaign Municipality allocated 7 lakh for school nutrition garden promotion at Mugu Availability of only one resource teacher (health & nutrition ) Maintenance and protection of cultivated plants /crops. Seasonal challenges Lack of technical guidelines
2. Household Level Homestead Garden Promotion Good Practices Challenges Diverse vegetable cultivation within same garden Seeds and sibling/plant Rotation of vegetable cultivation with seasonal variation Availability of vegetable in own garden changed food consumption habits Replacement of tradition habits of food consumptions Economic benefits from surplus production Scarcity of water supply Lack of adequate knowledge regarding nutritious value of cultivated food Work pressure to women Create healthy and green surrounding
3. Promotion of Food Recipe Good Practices Challenges Development of local food recipe Lack of knowledge regarding appropriate quantity/ ingredients High production and consumption of local legumes Change in consumption behaviors of locally produced highly nutritious food like legumes, buckwheat, beans. Economic benefits Food leveling Less informed regarding recipe at local level Lack of Quality assurance mechanism Lack of plan for scale up No technical Quality Control lab and Self life
4. Promotion of Local Agriculture Crops for Nutrition Improvement Good Practice Sensitization for cultivation of highly nutritious localcrops Awareness of food security Change in consumption pattern of foods Established well linked of local crops to market Challenges Depend on rain water Lack of sufficient organic manure Unavailability of High quality seeds Less aware about crop plantation pattern Government prioritised local legume production and also allocation Rs. 10 lakh as supports to farmers in Mugu district
Good Practices 5. Improving Nutrition Through Organic Manure Producing the organic manure in the form of Vermin compost with simple technology Provided earthworms produced enough good quality compost Producing the manure in a pit within small space and environment friendly (no bad smell), enough for kitchen garden Getting out the manure from the pit at every 3 months. Getting technical and financial supports by the farmers from the DistrictAgriculture Office Doing advocacy about the usefulness of the manure to the neighbors by the farmers. Providing supports with follow up / monitoring of the programme fromthe RSPs. Involvement of women in the programme Challenges Difficult to have special type of earthworms for the manure. Difficult to have enough cow dungs. Small project with limited coverage in the district. Challenges for large scale production Additional materials demanded from beneficiaries Need more publicity.
6. Honey Production and Marketing Good Practices Challenges Technology transfer (teaching / orientations of the techniques) about the bee-keeping to the stakeholders. Strengthening capacity of the farmers with the supports of the technical experts. Clear understanding about bee-keeping and nutritional value of honey Improved packing and dispatching to the market Economic value of honey and its marketing Collaboration with District Federation of Bee Keeping, and government organisations. Initiation taken by other neighboring VDC (formerly) people. Promoted under the brand Jajarkoteli honey. Early sign of income improvement and Quality assurance of the honey produce No subsidy plan for large scale production. Inadequate technical knowledge Pilot project and have no account in the total production of honey in the district
Good practices 7. Consumption, Processing and Marketing of Nettle Nettle became prioritized food in the area - good source of income and nutrition for smallholder farmers Differentform of nettle consumption practice Challenges Inadequate harvesting knowledge for large scale processing Lack of nutrient value level in packing materials Consumption of nettle among all social classes of people in the area Storage ofdrynettle practice developed No clear plan and priority from authorized side for commercialization of nettle. Established a nettle processing unit entrepreneurship promotion. Developed 5 women trainers for nettle processing Nettle production and marketing linked at local market and economic benefits to producers Government has supported for storage space
8. Media for Nutrition Improvement Good Practices Challenges Sharing information of the project activities through the newspaper as well as through on line. Sharing the performance of an individual farmer / producer Publishing success stories of an individual farmer, and also broadcasting regular nutrition program at community radio Most of the media are commercial Sustainability of community radio program Limited access to printed media Good approach for media sensitization on agriculture nutrition Supporting actively by farmer in information sharing through radio program. Institutional network for learning from the project Common understanding among the local media regarding the nutrition issues in the area
Overall Impression Very positive stakeholders towards project activities Project created awareness on nutrition through agricultural approach. Community drivenness Qualified, trained and highly motivated Rural Service providers (RSPs) Cost effective Partnerships, collaboration and excellent relationships with key local authorities. Highly mobilized local government authorities High demand for the project continuation and replication
Overall Limitation of Project Micro project at small scale Project loosely linked with MSNP at local level. Limited contribution in district account Geographic challenges Limited seed money to farmer Scattered interventions
Area of Advocacy Organic manure production and use for healthy food productions Local Nutrition education curriculum need to replicate Some of the highly nutritious local products like nettle, legumes, local beans, buck-wheat, walnut and other high value (organic coffee) etc. need more promotions Local media sensitization and engagement for scaling up nutrition High possibility for expansion of honey production
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