Household behaviour and nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices: Experiences of smallholder farmers in Northern West Bengal, India

Contextual Factors Influencing Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Nutrient-Rich Foods in Bihar, India: A Qualitative Study of Constraints and Facilitators

“…This finding is in contrast to other Indian studies that have indicated that knowledge of consumption of nutrient-rich food is low among the rural poor 23,24 or that larger farmers were more aware about nutrient-rich foods. 25 A recent report focusing on India’s prospects for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) of achieving zero hunger by 2030 indicated that there is a rising demand for consumption of nutrient-rich foods. 2 This demand is, however, not met with sufficient consumption due to high and fluctuating prices for these foods.…”

“…6 The reason for the low consumption from own production can be because of the preference among marginal farmers to sell their produce to boost income. 25…”

“…6 The reason for the low consumption from own production can be because of the preference among marginal farmers to sell their produce to boost income. 25 Low productivity by marginal farmers affected household food security, 31 and measures are needed to be taken to mitigate this issue. 31,32 The need for governmental support for agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides/insecticides, irrigation), access to subsidies, access to low-interest loans, and a fair price for their produce to make production of nutrient-rich foods a sustainable livelihood is critical in supporting smallholder farmers.…”

Development of Capitals and Capabilities of Smallholder Farmers for Promoting Inclusive Intensification in Agriculture: Experiences from Northern West Bengal, India

“…Similarly, different training programs and engagement activities have enriched the human capital in the community. These include training on zero-tillage farming, polyhouse cultivation, livestock rearing, the use of high-yielding varieties, decisionmaking on crop choice, etc., and engagement in the awareness of nutrition-sensitive agriculture (Baral et al 2021) and value-chain development (Bagchi, Mishra, and Behera 2021). Signs of many of the expected outcomes, such as improvement in accounts-keeping practices, knowledge and skills in modern farming techniques and their applicability, awareness of nutrition (Baral et al 2021) and health care, empowerment of women, and leadership evolution, could be seen in the process.…”

“…Strong collective actions among these farmers may result in better access to inputs, information, and credits that are otherwise very difficult for marginal farmers to have, primarily because of the lack of capacity and bargaining power. Importantly, with limited availability of land, small and marginal farmers often encounter the trade-off between an increase in farm income and securing nutrition for their family members (Baral et al, 2021). In other words, these farmers often have to choose between cash crops and food crops, and getting a balance between the two becomes a difficult proposition.…”