Vol. 10, Special Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Bhavana A, Gayathri B and Manjunatha R

Abstract:
The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of nutrition garden in farmer’s filed. The study was conducted for two years in Gidnahalli village, Chikkaballapura taluk and Marinayakanahalli village, Chintamani taluk, Chikkaballapur district. The farm families of 30 were randomly selected and made into three groups based on their family size; Large (6-8), Medium (4-6) and Small (2-4) where the total families were 5, 10 and 15 respectively. The total number of participants were 180, where males were 97 and 83 were females. *BMI classification showed that, malnourishment was most prevalent both in females and males (85.00%) respectively. Forty one females were suffering from nutritional anaemia followed by 24 suffered from iron deficiency. Clinical symptoms like scaly skin, angular stomatitis, skin lesions were observed among 37 children due to micro nutrient deficiencies. About 53 adults were suffering from Osteomalacia and Osteoporosis. Cross sectional design was inculcated and farm families were selected on the availability of the area, water and willingness of farm women to maintain the garden in all the seasons. Along with the vegetable seed kits perennials, fruit crops, super foods and medicinal plants were also supplied. Farm families were introduced to the concept of organically growing nutrition garden through on campus training programs on balanced diet and importance of micro-nutrients. The nutritional composition of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) was computed using Nutritive Value of Indian Foods and compared the same with the nutrients intake. The percentage adequacy determined revealed that there was an increase in per cent of quantity of nutrients intake like proteins (21.82%), fibre (13.83%), vitamin A (23.87%), vitamin C (15%), Iron (14.29) and Calcium (18.34%). After introduction of nutrition garden, the consumption of fresh vegetables increased in the daily diet which contributed towards the upliftment of the nutritional status of the farm families.