Importance of Agriculture Intervention inImproving NutritionalStatus of Women and Children: An Indian Scenario

Abstract

Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). The practice of agriculture is also known as “farming”, while scientists, inventors and others devote to improving farming methods and implements are also said to be engaged in agriculture. Subsistence farming is one in which the farmer farms a small area with limited resource inputs and produces only enough food to meet the needs of his/her family. To ensure good health and wellbeing, good nutrition is the key. Despite of various developments, lack of access to nutritious foods, negatively impact the health of women and children. Among the reasons advanced for the poor nutritional status of Indian women, an enduring explanation relates to the intra-household status of women. Several indicators of women’s status in the literature consistently rank women in the countries of South Asia as lower in comparison to their counterparts in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean [1]. These indicators are used to measure nutritional imbalance resulting in under-nutrition (assessed from underweight, wasting and stunting) and overweight. Child growth is internationally recognized as an important indicator of nutritional status and health in populations.