| Sumario: | Limited dietary diversity in rural communities of the northwestern Indo-Gangetic Plain Zone (NWIGP) poses significant challenges to nutritional health and overall well-being. Many households primarily rely on staple crops, such as wheat and rice, resulting in a monotonous diet that lacks essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Consequently, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies—such as iron and vitamin A deficiencies—are prevalent in these communities, particularly among women and children. Severe acute malnutrition among preschool children has increased from 6.6% to 7.7%, putting these children at high risk (National Family Health Survey-3). To address these issues, an on-station research initiative was established in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) and the Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA) Initiative under CIMMYT, focusing on enhancing nutritional diversity through the cultivation of diversified cropping system.
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