1 Odisha Development Conclave - 2016Integrated Agriculture for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security in Odisha (Learning from LANSA) Akshaya Kumar Panda M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

2 Focus Countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan Odisha Development Conclave LANSA: A Six year multi-country, multi- institutional Research Programme Consortium. Focus Countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan Funded by :UK Aid from the British people Core Research Question: How can South Asian agriculture and related food policies and interventions be designed and implemented to improve their impacts on nutrition? M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

3 Odisha Development Conclave - 2016Conceptualizing the pathways between agriculture and nutrition: Agriculture is a key driver of poverty reduction but... Pathways to nutrition are diverse and interconnected Agriculture as a source of food Agriculture as a source of income: – how income from agriculture/non agriculture is spent on food and non food (other basic needs) Agricultural policy and food prices Gender dimensions Women’s employment, time and ability to manage young child care Women’s status, decision making power and control over resource allocation Women’s own health and nutritional status Gillespie et al. 2012 M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

4 Nutrition status of Odisha:Odisha Development Conclave Nutrition status of Odisha: Indicator Residence Social Category Rural Urban Total SC ST OBC Others Low birth weight (%) 18.5 20.8 18.9 19.8 18.0 21.7 16.0 Nutrition status of children (0-59 months) (%) Stunted 39.6 31.3 38.2 39.8 46.1 41.3 25.3 Severely stunted 13.1 15.5 14.6 22.1 14.5 10.0 Wasted 18.7 16.2 18.3 20.1 22.0 15.7 Severely wasted 4.7 5.8 4.9 4.3 4.8 4.4 Underweight 35.5 28.5 34.4 46.8 33.9 21.2 Severely underweight 11.2 9.9 11.0 13.7 17.0 7.7 5.6 Source: RSOC M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

5 Odisha Development Conclave - 2016Nutrition status of adolescent girls (15-18 years) (%): Indicator Residence Social Category Rural Urban Total SC ST OBC Others BMI < 18.5 (under weight) 54.1 38.9 51.8 56.1 37.3 57.3 50.0 BMI > 25 (over weight) 2.3 9.4 3.4 1.7 0.0 10.7 62% women and 65% children are anaemic and chronic energy deficient. Sickle cell anaemia is common in tribal communities. Stunting among children belonging to ST and OBC communities is in the range of per cent. Source: RSOC M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

6 Household Characteristics (%):Odisha Development Conclave Household Characteristics (%): Indicator Residence Social Category Rural Urban Total SC ST OBC Others Access to any improved source of drinking water 86.7 88.8 87.1 94.8 83.3 88.9 83.8 Using improved sanitation facility 10.7 50.1 17.0 8.7 4.1 20.2 30.0 Households practicing open defecation 85.7 35.7 77.7 94.9 73.3 60.5 Source: RSOC M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

7 Agriculture in Odisha Odisha Development Conclave - 2016Agriculture is the backbone of the livelihood security system of Odisha. Agriculture not only provides food to its population but also provides employment opportunities to about 60% of the total workforce in Odisha Agriculture in Odisha still depends on the small and marginal farmers as small and marginal farmers constitute more than 90% of the farming community Although share of agriculture sector in Gross State Domestic Product has declined from 70% (1950s) to 15%, majority of the rural population of the State depends upon agriculture for its livelihood. About 70 per cent of our population is directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture.  M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

8 Agriculture – Nutrition disconnect:Odisha Development Conclave Agriculture – Nutrition disconnect: Large population dependent on agriculture and high percentage of undernourished. Challenges identified in agriculture: Neglect of several climate-smart, naturally fortified food crops and animal foods Use of decade old seed varieties and outdated agronomic practices; Lack of technology transfer More focus on monotonous cropping pattern Less degree of crop diversification and Declining soil fertility poses greater challenges for successful crop yields under contrasting weather. M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

9 A Farming System for Nutrition (FSN) Approach:Odisha Development Conclave A Farming System for Nutrition (FSN) Approach: “FSN involves the introduction of agricultural remedies to the nutritional maladies prevailing in an area, through the mainstreaming of nutritional criteria in the selection of the components of a farming system involving crops (both natural and biofortified), farm animals and where feasible, fish….., the gender and age dimensions of human nutritional needs are kept in view, such as the special needs of pregnant women and nursing mothers, and new born babies during the first 1000 days after conception and birth”. Biofortified crop varieties are introduced in FSN wherever available – e.g. high iron pearl millet to address anaemia, orange fleshed sweet potato for Vitamin-A deficiency and pulses & QPM for Protein.   M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

10 Nutrition (FSN) Approach to improve the nutritional Odisha Development Conclave What is the Evidence of Pro-Nutrition Agriculture Intervention? Feasibility Study of Farming System for Nutrition (FSN) Approach to improve the nutritional status of the malnourished underway in Koraput, Odisha and Wardha, Maharashtra under LANSA mm M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

11 Odisha Development Conclave - 2016A Farming System Approach to Address Malnutrition Identify existing disconnect between agriculture-nutrition linkages through baseline survey Engage in planning with farm-households and other stakeholders to identify Farming System for Nutrition (FSN) interventions Piloting FSN interventions in selected farm-households, who are able to follow a set of guidelines Performance evaluation - crop productivity/nutritional outcomes, and measuring farm-households experiences and concurrent diffusion Identify key FSN interventions through farmers expressed requirements Scaling up M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

12 Farming System for NutritionTechnology Platform of research institutes, academia and private sector for leveraging technical support –inputs, guidance in farming practices, advisories Stakeholder Platform of government line departments, banks, local NGOs, farmers’ groups for leveraging intervention partnerships – link with extant government schemes, access to entitlements Based on the above: Design of ‘Nutrition-Sensitive Farming System’ suited to local conditions: Crop-Livestock-Nutrition Garden; Nutrition Literacy M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

13 Some highlights from the Baseline Data: KoraputOdisha Development Conclave Some highlights from the Baseline Data: Koraput Primary Occupation: Cultivation and agricultural labour Majority: Small and medium farmers; landless Diet is largely cereal dominated; consumption of all other food groups is less than recommended level The overall prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED: BMI <18.5) higher among women than men 35 per cent children in the age group of 0-60 months are stunted. More than 50 per cent of women & children are anaemic; a third of children under 5 affected by VAD. More than 90 per cent households practice open defecation M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

14 Under-nutrition status:Odisha Development Conclave Under-nutrition status: Source : Baseline Survey 2014 M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

15 Micronutrient Deficiency:Odisha Development Conclave Micronutrient Deficiency: M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

16 Food Consumption Pattern:Odisha Development Conclave Food Consumption Pattern: Source : Baseline Survey 2014 M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

17 Core Interventions underway:Odisha Development Conclave Core Interventions underway: Increase area and availability of nutritious crops and animal foods: Focus on Millets and Pulses Orange Flesh Sweet Potato Animal Foods: Poultry for landless; Fishery where water body is available M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

18 Odisha Development Conclave - 2016M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

19 Nutrition Garden of Bio-fortified Fruits and Vegetables:Odisha Development Conclave Nutrition Garden of Bio-fortified Fruits and Vegetables: Critically essential plants in every household: e.g. lemon moringa, papaya Calendar of Seasonal vegetables rich in micronutrients and beta carotene Linked to mid-day meal in Schools and ICDS Centers Nutrition Awareness M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

20 Nutrition Awareness in the Community:Odisha Development Conclave Nutrition Awareness in the Community: Training Local Men and Women to be champions at the Community Level – Hunger Fighters Understanding of balanced diet Nutritive value of different foods Identify and introduce agricultural remedies to nutritional maladies based on gender and age Introduce biofortified crops and varieties in the farming system Increase their consumption for improvement in nutrition status Knowledge of Entitlements M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

21 Linking Agriculture to Nutrition:Odisha Development Conclave Linking Agriculture to Nutrition: Improve availability, access and affordability of nutritious crops Nutrition Literacy to diversify diets Some highlights: Improved productivity of finger millet with better cultivation practices Inter-crop of millet and pulses Fallow land being brought under cultivation This Kharif, we have reached out to 756 Farmers covering an area of 280 acres in Koraput. M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

22 From Field Trials to the Consumer: Six Keys to Success:Odisha Development Conclave From Field Trials to the Consumer: Six Keys to Success: Farmer’s Decision on Crop and Varietal Choice: governed by the cost – risk – return structure of farming; soil nutrient composition influences crop nutrient composition Consumer’s Decision based on cost and culinary characteristics Public – Private Partnerships: Pricing, procurement, value chain development, public distribution and social protection Nutritional Literacy: capacity building of community - Cadre of ‘Community Hunger Fighters’ Convergence and Synergy among food and non-food factors; Measurement of Impact: adopt measurable indicators M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

23 Sustainability requires policy support:Odisha Development Conclave Sustainability requires policy support: Nutrition Focus in Agriculture Policy Support for Promotion of Nutrient dense crops like Millets and Pulses Linking these crops with government food distribution programmes: PDS, ICDS, MDM Access to inputs (seeds, fertiliser) Women-friendly agriculture implements to reduce drudgery and save time. Support Price Village-level processing Household food security through FSN approach: integrated crop-animal husbandry and nutrition garden Effective delivery of entitlements for agriculture, food & nutrition security Synergy between different Govt. Department. M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia

24 Thank you Odisha Development Conclave - 2016M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia