Nutri-garden models for household nutritional security in tribal areas of Valsad

Under the Nutri sensitive Agri-resources and Innovations (NARI) project, KVK-Valsad conducted study during the year 2017-2020 in six villages of Kaparada block with 120 respondents to assess the VADI model and Gangama mandal design in addressing food security of tribal people of Valsad. Pooled data showed that in traditional method of home stead garden, farmers were cultivated only 6-7 crops in haphazard manner which were not enough to fulfill their requirement so they had to purchase from market. In case of Gangama mandal model, farmers could cultivate up to 32 crops, where as in VADI model upto 19 crops i.e., vegetable, fruits, root crops, herbal crops, pulses etc., resulted in maximum increase in average production (134 per cent), average annual income (Rs.23,745/-), average consumption(54%) and it reduced purchase(60%) from outside market compared VADI Model and traditional method. The scaling up of proven nutrition interventions like Gangama nutri-garden model laced with more number of seasonal vegetables may be useful to improve household nutritional security of tribal people of Valsad district.