ICAR celebrates Poshan Maah - 2020 to celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

7 - 30 September, 2020, New Delhi

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi organized a wide array of events under the NARI (Nutri Sensitive Agri-resources & Innovations) Programme to mark the celebration of the Poshan Maah from 7^th to 30^th September, 2020 at each Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The programmes were organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

On the occasion of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s Birthday, the KVKs organized a special Training Programme on 17^th September, 2020 for the Capacity Building of Anganwadi Workers and farm women, distribution of seed and planting material and vegetable seed kits for establishing the Nutri-Gardens in convergence with the Ministry of Women and Child Department, IFFCO and other Institutes.

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare inaugurated the programme in the august presence of Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) and Dr. A.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR.

A total of 13 State Ministers, 2 Union Ministers, 11 Members of Parliament, 87 MLAs and 4,275 other dignitaries participated in the programme. Around 706 Krishi Vigyan Kendras oriented 27,612 Anganwadi Workers and 24,301 farm women across 28 states & 6 Union Territories. The participating Anganwadi Workers and Farm Women were distributed a packet of vegetable seed along with 2,49,129 vegetable seedlings, 46,039 planting material and literature.

About 2,268 Training Programmes benefitting 93,278 respondents including 34,513 farm women and 33,597 Anganwadi Workers were organized during the occasion.

With an aim to promote the nutrition, a total of 5,597 Nutri-Gardens and 573 Terrace Gardens were established at the KVKs and Anganwadi Kendras. The Bio-fortified crops and varieties being a rich source of micronutrients and vitamins were also promoted through 880 Training-cum-Awareness Programmes benefitting 20,742 respondents including farmers, farm women and Anganwadi Workers.

The various Programmes on Preparation of Nutritious Products at Home (1,614), Nutri-Rangoli (628) and Traditional Recipe (1,475) were also organized covering a total of 29,510 respondents. Around 4,245 activities were organized to create awareness.

The KVKs provided 90,508 fruit plants, 85,210 vegetable seedling and 1,237 seed packets / vegetable kits to 31,071 beneficiaries across all the states during the programme organized on 2^nd October, 2020 to celebrate the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi under Poshan Maah.

(Source: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi)