Sowing sustainability | Political Economy

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“Food security is not just about filling the stomach. It is about dignity, health and the foundation of a thriving society.” – Rajendra Pachori

Ural Sindh faces major challenges including widespread food insecurity. According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, a significant portion of the rural population in Sindh experiences severe food insecurity. The integrated food security phase classification for April 2023 shows that a substantial number of people in Sindh are facing severe food insecurity crisis (IPC Phase 3) and emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels. It has to be done. Factors such as climate change, poverty and limited access to resources exacerbate the situation. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations recognizes home gardening as an important strategy for increasing household food security and nutrition, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Recognizing these critical issues, the Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Enhancement Project, a World Bank-funded initiative, implemented the High Drip Kit intervention in the kitchen garden. This component aims to address both food security and women’s empowerment by providing 15,100 households with a comprehensive package: drip irrigation kits, 200 liter water storage tanks, essential tools, quality seeds and a capacity building programme.

Families growing fresh, nutritious vegetables have significantly improved their food security and dietary diversity. This increased access to fresh produce directly addressed the problem of malnutrition, especially among children. Moreover, the ability to sell surplus produce in local markets generated additional income for households, empowering women to contribute to their families’ livelihoods and improve their economic standing. The beneficiaries were selected by non-governmental organizations such as Sindh Rural Support Organization, National Rural Support Program, Terdeep, Secure Islamic France and Shah Sacha Sami Foundation. These organizations have been working for many years, ensuring transparency in beneficiary selection and identifying the most deserving households. Collaborative kitchen gardens were a key pillar of the initiative’s success.

Director General of Water Management and CIAPEP Project Director Syed Nadeem Shah said that the impact of this intervention has been profound. The impact evaluation revealed that before the project, 45 percent of the beneficiaries did not have a daily vegetable meal. After the installation of kitchen garden kits, this number dropped dramatically, with 56 percent of beneficiaries enjoying at least one vegetable meal per day compared to 44 percent having two. This significant increase in vegetable consumption directly addressed the problem of malnutrition, especially among children.

By cultivating fresh, nutritious vegetables, families significantly improved their food security and dietary diversity. This increased access to fresh produce directly addressed the problem of malnutrition, especially among children.

Additionally, the ability to grow fresh, nutritious vegetables not only improved dietary diversity but also generated additional income for some households.

97% of the beneficiaries of kitchen garden initiatives were women. The project had an empowering effect on this segment of the population. High female participation not only gave women access to fresh vegetables and improved the health of their families, including women, girls, children and the elderly, but also earned them income by selling surplus produce. He also gave the authority to do so. Economic freedom fostered a sense of well-being and contributed to social development in rural communities.

“The success of the Kitchen Garden Initiative under CAPEP was evident in the fact that it helped rural women and What about the impact on the lives of their families from improving food security, nutrition and income.

SRSO’s presence in Sindh at community, village and local support organization levels has enabled the identification of vulnerable households and ensured equitable distribution of resources through the involvement of local community members. The impact of change on women’s lives – from better nutrition to greater economic empowerment – has been rewarding. Mohammad Datal Kalhoro, CEO of Sindh Rural Support Organization, says that the Kitchen Garden Initiative has helped around 200,000 households to revive the tradition of growing vegetables at home.

The success of the SIAPEP Kitchen Garden Initiative by the On-Farm Water Management Wing of the Department of Agriculture underscores the need to empower rural communities, particularly women and vulnerable groups, and promote sustainable development through planned initiatives. Light has been thrown.

By scaling up this program and similar initiatives that prioritize women’s empowerment and food security, the Sindh government can make significant strides in building a more prosperous and equitable future for all its citizens. Expanding this program to Sindh and potentially other regions of Pakistan will enable policy makers to address a number of sustainable development goals, including:

SDG 1: Ending poverty and hunger in rural households is no poverty.

SDG 2: Zero hunger by improving food security and access to nutritious food.

SDG 5: Gender equality by empowering women through economic opportunities.

SDG 10: Reduce inequality by improving rural communities’ access to resources and opportunities.

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production by promoting sustainable and local food production.

This comprehensive approach will not only improve the livelihood of millions of rural households but also contribute to the overall development of the country.

The author is a genre expert and development professional. He can be reached at Sanakhanzada 4@gmail.com, LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sana-siddique-6290a9177 and x https://x.com/sanasrahimoo?s=21