Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India

Introduction: Aquatic foods, particularly fish, are essential for addressing malnutrition, especially in vulnerable populations like children and women. In India, traditional aquaculture practices centered around carp species often overlooked the production of nutrient-rich small fish. To address th...

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Autores principales: Dubey, Sourabh Kumar, Padiyar, Arun, Chadag, Vishnumurthy Mohan, Shenoy, Neetha, Gaikwad, Amar Bharat, Ratha, Baishnaba Charan, Belton, Ben
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Frontiers Media 2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/152428
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author Dubey, Sourabh Kumar
Padiyar, Arun
Chadag, Vishnumurthy Mohan
Shenoy, Neetha
Gaikwad, Amar Bharat
Ratha, Baishnaba Charan
Belton, Ben
author_browse Belton, Ben
Chadag, Vishnumurthy Mohan
Dubey, Sourabh Kumar
Gaikwad, Amar Bharat
Padiyar, Arun
Ratha, Baishnaba Charan
Shenoy, Neetha
author_facet Dubey, Sourabh Kumar
Padiyar, Arun
Chadag, Vishnumurthy Mohan
Shenoy, Neetha
Gaikwad, Amar Bharat
Ratha, Baishnaba Charan
Belton, Ben
author_sort Dubey, Sourabh Kumar
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Introduction: Aquatic foods, particularly fish, are essential for addressing malnutrition, especially in vulnerable populations like children and women. In India, traditional aquaculture practices centered around carp species often overlooked the production of nutrient-rich small fish. To address this, nutrition-sensitive aquaculture approaches advocate for integrating species like mola carplet (Amblypharyngodon mola) rich in micronutrients, into existing systems. In Odisha, India, where poverty and food insecurity are prevalent, the government initiated a program to empower women through aquaculture, focusing on nutrition-sensitive carp-mola polyculture in community ponds through Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs). Methods: This study evaluates the effectiveness of this government program in enhancing income, household nutrition, and women’s empowerment. Data from field surveys conducted across all 30 districts of Odisha were analyzed to assess participation, capacity building, adoption of better management practices (BMPs), productivity of carp-mola polyculture, household fish consumption, and profitability. Results and discussion: The study found widespread participation and adoption of BMPs among WSHGs, leading to increased productivity and income. Carp-mola polyculture systems showed higher productivity and consumption rates, contributing to improved nutrition among WSHGs and their communities. Despite challenges such as input costs and limited mola availability, WSHGs reported profitability from fish farming, with carp-mola polyculture systems yielding higher net income. Factors influencing productivity and profitability included water retention period, stocking density, feed application, and training. The program’s impact extended beyond economic benefits, encompassing environmental improvement, women’s empowerment, and enhanced nutrition outcomes. The study highlights the success of the government program in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices and improving nutrition outcomes in Odisha. Continued support, capacity building, and collaboration among stakeholders are essential for scaling up nutrition-sensitive aquaculture interventions and ensuring long-term sustainability. Strengthening dissemination processes, addressing challenges, and further research on small indigenous fish production techniques are crucial for maximizing the program’s impact on food security and rural development.
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institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
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publisherStr Frontiers Media
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spelling CGSpace1524282025-12-08T10:29:22Z Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India Dubey, Sourabh Kumar Padiyar, Arun Chadag, Vishnumurthy Mohan Shenoy, Neetha Gaikwad, Amar Bharat Ratha, Baishnaba Charan Belton, Ben aquaculture carp nutrition women’s empowerment Introduction: Aquatic foods, particularly fish, are essential for addressing malnutrition, especially in vulnerable populations like children and women. In India, traditional aquaculture practices centered around carp species often overlooked the production of nutrient-rich small fish. To address this, nutrition-sensitive aquaculture approaches advocate for integrating species like mola carplet (Amblypharyngodon mola) rich in micronutrients, into existing systems. In Odisha, India, where poverty and food insecurity are prevalent, the government initiated a program to empower women through aquaculture, focusing on nutrition-sensitive carp-mola polyculture in community ponds through Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs). Methods: This study evaluates the effectiveness of this government program in enhancing income, household nutrition, and women’s empowerment. Data from field surveys conducted across all 30 districts of Odisha were analyzed to assess participation, capacity building, adoption of better management practices (BMPs), productivity of carp-mola polyculture, household fish consumption, and profitability. Results and discussion: The study found widespread participation and adoption of BMPs among WSHGs, leading to increased productivity and income. Carp-mola polyculture systems showed higher productivity and consumption rates, contributing to improved nutrition among WSHGs and their communities. Despite challenges such as input costs and limited mola availability, WSHGs reported profitability from fish farming, with carp-mola polyculture systems yielding higher net income. Factors influencing productivity and profitability included water retention period, stocking density, feed application, and training. The program’s impact extended beyond economic benefits, encompassing environmental improvement, women’s empowerment, and enhanced nutrition outcomes. The study highlights the success of the government program in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices and improving nutrition outcomes in Odisha. Continued support, capacity building, and collaboration among stakeholders are essential for scaling up nutrition-sensitive aquaculture interventions and ensuring long-term sustainability. Strengthening dissemination processes, addressing challenges, and further research on small indigenous fish production techniques are crucial for maximizing the program’s impact on food security and rural development. 2024-08-20 2024-09-27T13:44:41Z 2024-09-27T13:44:41Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/152428 en Open Access Frontiers Media Dubey, Sourabh Kumar; Padiyar, Arun; Chadag, Vishnumurthy Mohan; Shenoy, Neetha; Gaikwad, Amar Bharat; Ratha, Baishnaba Charan; and Belton, Ben. 2024. Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 8: 1412686. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1412686
spellingShingle aquaculture
carp
nutrition
women’s empowerment
Dubey, Sourabh Kumar
Padiyar, Arun
Chadag, Vishnumurthy Mohan
Shenoy, Neetha
Gaikwad, Amar Bharat
Ratha, Baishnaba Charan
Belton, Ben
Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India
title Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India
title_full Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India
title_fullStr Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India
title_full_unstemmed Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India
title_short Scaling community-based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women’s empowerment: lessons from Odisha, India
title_sort scaling community based aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and women s empowerment lessons from odisha india
topic aquaculture
carp
nutrition
women’s empowerment
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/152428
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