Food Security

Food Security

Fighting malnutrition through environmentally-friendly food

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 2023

256,500  villagers cultivated a vegetable garden

10 wells
provide better access to water.

636 families
use drip irrigation

One of our programs in India

Collective solutions to ensure access to water

To support sustainable and organic agriculture, we assist communities in implementing water management solutions at the village level. This is a major challenge for populations who feel powerless in the face of climate change.

A fundamental resource essential to life and livelihoods, water is becoming increasingly scarce in our intervention areas in India. Karuna supports communities in establishing water management committees that determine the most suitable solution for each village. With our support, all residents mobilize to undertake the construction of rainwater retention ponds and the repair or digging of wells. These sustainable solutions, combined with awareness-raising efforts, ensure better water availability throughout the year for domestic use and the irrigation of vegetable gardens.

Previously, we had no choice but to use unsafe and insufficient water. But with your support, the village has built a pond. We will be able to irrigate our farms, wash, and water our animals all year round. Our lives will be simpler!

Indrajit Singh Munda, farmer

In 2023, 12 ponds and 10 wells were constructed.

I support access to water in villages

One of our programs in Nepal

Organic vegetable gardens – Family, food and organic farming program

In the Ruby Valley, traditional agricultural practices are prevalent. Farmers find it difficult to adapt to more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. due to a lack of technical knowledge and limited resources.. Added to this are the region’s extreme weather conditions, which together can cause major food shortages at certain times of the year, particularly in winter.

To help people become more self-sufficient in terms of food, Karuna has set up nurseries in each village, which are managed by a local person. These nurseries produce and distribute seeds and seedlings, and also serve as training centers and experimental laboratories. Villagers learn new farming techniques which enable them to better manage their crops and use natural products. They can experiment with their knowledge before putting it into practice at home. The equipment we provide also enables them to build greenhouses to produce food all year round.

These families now have a varied and balanced diet, and are able to share what they have received with their neighbors.. They are also more aware of the importance of preserving the environment and conserving and producing the local plants that are used in traditional medicine.

I’ve received a number of vegetable seedlings that I’ve planted in my vegetable garden. They’re growing really well! Before the training course, I didn’t know how to grow cucumbers or kiwis, but now I know when and how to apply organic fertilizer and prepare the soil so that they grow well. The seedlings and seeds I’ve planted in my vegetable garden have enabled me to meet my daily fruit and vegetable requirements.

Pal Maya Tamang, farmer – Tipling, Ruby Valley, Nepal

In 2023, 690 farmers were trained, and 10 nurseries were established.

I support sustainable agriculture in Nepal

Our approach

Improving food security requires a global approach to the responsible and ecological management of water and soil resources. We work on two complementary levels: solutions tailored to the needs of individual families and collective initiatives at village level.

To learn more about our food security programs