Role of rainwater harvest based nutri-gardens in nutritional security of rural households Kalash Poonam1,*, Rathore B.S.2, Kachhawaha S.3 1Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 2Principal Scientist & Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 3Subject Matter Specialist (Vet. Science), ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan *Corresponding author email id: poonamgurjar1@gmail.com
Online Published on 30 March, 2024. Abstract The rural population in western Rajasthan is more dependent on natural resources for their livelihood and rain water harvest based nutri-garden is an important option to meet their nutritional requirement and economic needs. The present study to access the role of rainwater harvest based nutri-gardens in nutritional security of rural households was carried out in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. The 120 rural women were selected randomly for study. It was found that training programmes and front line demonstrations on nutritional gardening has significantly increased knowledge of beneficiaries about all aspect of vegetables production and 96.66 per cent rural women had knowledge about land preparation and layout and 93.33 per cent women has knowledge of critical stages of irrigation in nutritional gardens. After these interventions, rural women grown 21 types of vegetables and production of vegetable was increased 330 per cent, resulting in increased consumption (32%), distribution among neighbours and relatives (100%). The significant increase in availability of all elements of human diet was found and availability of iron was increased by 412 per cent. The availability of water for irrigation was major constraint for production of vegetables and accorded first rank whereas, Unavailability of quality seed /planting material was ranked second. Top Keywords Rain water harvest, Nutri-gardens, Nutritional security, Knowledge, Trainings, Front line demonstrations, Constraints. Top |