Diet diversification project improving health in South India

Giri Poshana is funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, and Commissionerate of Tribal Welfare, Government of Telangana

Energy-dense foods made from millets, sorghum and pulses are being provided to tribal communities in parts of Telangana state to combat malnutrition. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched the diet diversification project, Giri Poshana, in collaboration with governments of India and Telangana after last year’s successful pilot project, the Nutri-Food Basket.

Prevalence of malnutrition, including anemia, is reportedly high in tribal communities consuming undiversified diet. In Telangana’s Utnoor, Bhadrachalm and Eturnagaram blocks, where the food intervention was initiated, over 63% women and 56% children aged under 5 are anemic. About 22% – 35% of the children are also underweight while 26% to 38% are stunted. Wasting ranges between 13% and 22% in this age group.

ICRISAT’s Agribusiness Innovation Platform (AIP), through its Nutriplus Knowledge (NPK) Program, aims to raise nutrition levels of nearly 13,000 people in the three blocks. Giri (tribal) Poshana (nutrition) is targeted at children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Giri Poshana is funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, and Commissionerate of Tribal Welfare, Government of Telangana.  Block-level Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) are working with ICRISAT in food distribution and monitoring.