Assessment of Nutritional Security Status in Farm Households from Nutrition Garden in Tonk District of Rajasthan, India

Introduction: Micronutrients deficiencies related malnutrition is quite common in Indian population especially in women and children of rural communities. The main causes of malnutrition are illiteracy, unawareness, low purchasing power, inadequate availability of vegetables and fruits in rural area of Tonk district.

Methods: Keeping this problem into consideration, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tonk conducted Front Line Demonstration on Nutrition Garden in the villages of Tonk district of Rajasthan. Prior to Front Line Demonstration, training programmes were organized on the importance of Nutrition garden at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tonk. A well prepared questionnaire was used to assess pre and post knowledge of Nutrition Garden. Pre and post Boby Mass Index (BMI) and haemoglobin levels of farm women and anthropometric measurements of children were assessed to check the effect of Nutrition garden. For the conduction of Front Line Demonstration on Nutrition garden, 200 families having 4-6 members of Tonk district with the area of 250m2 have been selected.

Results: On the basis of results, it was found that average per capita availability of vegetables increased from 57 to 396 gm/day showing an improvement of vegetables consumption at household level. Per capita nutrient availability from Nutrition garden increased significantly in terms of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, iron, calcium and beta carotene.

Conclusions: From this study, it is concluded that establishing Nutrition garden proved important technology to improve nutritional status of farm families of Tonk district.