Homestead Food Production Program in Central and Far-western Nepal
Increases Food and Nutrition Security: An Overview of Program
Achievements
Aminuzzaman Talukder, Gopi Sapkota, Sharmila Shrestha, Saskia de Pee and Martin
W Bloem
ABSTRACT
Poor nutrition among pre-school children, pregnant and lactating mothers is a serious public
health problem in Nepal. Vitamin A and other micronutrient deficiencies are widespread.
Helen Keller International (HKI) has been implementing home gardening programs during
the last seven years in Nepal. HKI, started the homestead food production program in four
districts in central and far-western regions in Nepal. The aim of this evaluation is to assess
the impact of HKIs’ homestead gardening program on production and consumption of
micronutrient rich foods by children (6-59 months) and their mothers. The data for this
evaluation were collected by the monitoring round conducted during March-June and July-
October 2003. The results reported relate to the comparison between the first monitoring
and progress made between May 2002 and October 2003.
The average size of the garden increased between 2 visits and the majority of the
households had started to practice improved and developed gardening with diversification.
The proportion of pregnant and lactating mothers and the children under five that consumed
fruits and vegetables increased considerably. Consumption of egg was also increased by
double as compared to previous week in both the mothers and children under five. The
percentage of households earned money by selling poultry and eggs in two months period
increased from 18% to 58% and median amount of money earned was from NRs 188 to
NRs. 322. HKI homestead food production program increased both production and
consumption of micronutrient rich foods including plant and animal sources. It further helped
to increase the quality of the household’s diet. Homestead food production also increased
family income that increases household food and nutrition security.
Key words: homestead gardening, micronutrient deficiencies, lactating mothers, households
INTRODUCTION
This project works through a model of establishing village model nursery and poultry farms
(VMNPF) and individual household gardeners. The VMNPFs are owned by private farmers
within the group and run as a micro-enterprise. Under this approach, each VMNPF will
support two groups of 10-20 households each, depending on the area (more in the Terai
than in the hilly area). These households will get some inputs (such as seeds/seedlings,
saplings, poultry), practical training and demonstration from the VMNPF.
The overall goal of the project is to increase the availability and consumption of micro-
nutrient rich foods from both plant and animal sources at the household and community
levels, as well as to empower women by increasing family income and the women’s control
over resources. The specific objectives of the project are to:
- Increase the production of and access to micronutrient-rich animal and plant foods
for daily meals to meet the nutritional needs of the people - Increase family income through the sale of products from both animal and plant
sources - Ensure better utilization of local resources through community channels