A pilot project roped in migrant workers from an Indian state to harvest fruits and vegetables on their land. The project, called Poshan Vatika, has helped the workers earn during the difficult Covid-19 pandemic.
Poshan Vatika, which translates to Nutrition Garden, is a one-of-a-kind programme spearheaded by women from 12 villages in an Indian state. They are assisting communities in combating poverty and generating revenue by converting barren land into a nutritious food garden. Women from 12 Poshan Vatikas earned lakhs of rupees, while each group member saved several thousand rupees.
COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on lives and livelihoods in rural India during the last 18 months. According to one survey, rural communities are eating less and are often unable to buy nutritional foods .
In Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, an innovative effort led by women from 12 villages is not only combating hunger but also generating revenue by transforming barren land into a nutritious food garden.
These 12 villages are largely made up of indigenous people who, despite relying on agriculture for a living, are among the most vulnerable in terms of food and nutrition security.They are unable to efficiently use their land and make cash due to a lack of advice and resources. They are forced to migrate due to extreme poverty and a lack of livelihood options in villages.
During the first wave of Covid-19, the nation-wide lockdown resulted in a major flight of migrant workers. As a result, rural households experienced income losses, pushing them farther into poverty, indebtedness, and hunger. Seeing no other way to generate income, the coordinators of the Prabhat Jal Sarakshan Yojana, a project led by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the region, began providing guidance and basic training to women from Mendki Tal village in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district to establish the community Poshan Vatika as a pilot project.
They began growing various fruits and green vegetables on 1,600 square feet of space. Women’s efforts have been successful in three months, recruiting women to the project from 11 neighbouring communities.After having received similar training, they formed and started to cultivate accessible land together.
This initiative is now operated by 144 women, and it has proven to be a valuable tool for village women seeking to supplement their income.
According to the coordinator of the initiative, Chandi Prasad Pandaye, women from 12 Poshan Vatikas were able to earn Rs 3 lakh, between December 2020 and May 2021. Each member saved up to Rs 35,000.
Furthermore, they save money by purchasing vegetables from Poshan Vatikas for their household consumption.
Another advantage of this project has been greater knowledge of the importance of nutritious eating among women and their families.
They are looking after the nutritional needs of all family members during these trying times when immunity is essential.
Women from various parts of Chhindwara, in addition to Mendki Tal, are active in the Community Poshan Vatika effort. This idea will be expanded to additional villages in the near future.
