Backyard nutritional kitchen garden for combating malnutrition and raising the additional income

Malnutrition and poor health condition is one of the common problems in rural areas of our country. It retards growth, increases the risk and duration of illness, reduces work output and slows social and mental development. the main cause of malnutrition is lack of balance nutrients in the diet. For poor households, vegetables and fruits are often the only sources of micronutrients in the family diet. Vegetables help combat malnutrition and diversify diets. Mostly rural people depend on grains for food; less consumption of vegetables, green vegetables; fruits and milk are the reasons for malnutrition. Kitchen gardening is one of the world's most ancient food production practices and is practiced throughout the world. Homestead production of fruits and vegetables provides the households with direct access to important nutrients that may not be readily available or within their economic rich. Dietary diversification balances the diet by enhancing supply of essential micro-nutrients leading to improved health, enhanced thinking ability and increased efficiency. Improved vegetable nutrition garden is better than traditional homestead vegetable garden. the improved model involves many crops that can be repeatedly harvested to meet a family's vegetable needs throughout the year. therefore, present study was conducted to see the impact of kitchen gardening in improving the nutrional security and economic status of households in rural areas. The demonstration was conducted among 20 farm women's in Nutri Smart Village Morghira and Bijaori of Burhanpur district of M.P. The total population of village Morghira and Bijauri was 4961, out of which 13 were found malnourished which has decreased to 03. Farmers were producing sufficient food but consumption was not up to the mark. After interventions, there was a significant increase in availability and consumption. Observation recorded that production of vegetables on beneficiaries field increased 76% which resulted in increased profit up to 69% worth Rs. 2700. The cost benefit ratio was 1: 2: 4.