Food Security
Fighting malnutrition with sustainable agriculture
Malnutrition is prevalent in India and Nepal, particularly among rural populations who do not have the physical, social or economic means to obtain sufficient quantities of healthy and nutritious food. Children are especially vulnerable because malnutrition impairs their cognitive development and stunts their physical growth.
Some figures : A report published by UNICEF in 2020 stated that malnutrition was the cause of 69% of deaths among children under the age of 5 in India and 43% in Nepal.
In both India and Nepal, Karuna-Shechen is committed to decreasing malnutrition by promoting access to quality water, through the installation of drip irrigation systems, wells and ponds and to supporting sustainable family farming , through the creation of organic vegetable gardens, and community activities that raise food awareness.
The aim of all these initiatives is to give local people the means to produce sufficient quantities of quality fruit and vegetables, while respecting the environment.
Our teams train farmers in sustainable farming techniques, the management of nurseries for the distribution of seeds and seedlings, and they provide equipment for greenhouses. Our programs also support the cultivation of high value crops that can be sold and subsequently provide additional income.
Our impact in 2024
218 500 people grew a vegetable garden
20 137 fruit trees distributed and planted
783 households equipped with drip irrigation
10 wells and 12 ponds provided better access to water
One of our programs in India
Growing a garden for better eating at school
In kindergartens, we set up organic vegetable gardens that are both educational for children and a source of quality food for their healthy development.
The vegetable gardens, developed in line with the government’s child development plan, help improve children’s nutrition by providing fresh vegetables to balance their meals. Sustainable agriculture and collective responsibility are taught in the form of educational games, to stimulate their cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. Public-service educators are trained by the organization to facilitate this project.
This initiative has been greatly appreciated by both the centres and the parents. Thanks to the collaboration between our outreach and educational teams, thriving kitchen gardens are ensured and are used to prepare the mid-day meals for children.
Sita Kumari, Education Coordinator in a kindergarten