Training helps improve agri production practices: Survey

Interactive training on agriculture and nutrition enhances the knowledge of improved production practices for both crops and non-crops such as vegetables and fruits, according to a survey.

The increase in knowledge was particularly large for women, the survey said.

Besides, women become empowered in ownership of assets and decision-making, especially related to agriculture, nutrition and gender training, it said.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) conducted the survey under the 'Agriculture, Nutrition and Gender Linkages (ANGeL)' project.

IFPRI in collaboration with the USAID and the agriculture ministry implemented the project.

IFPRI country director Dr Akhter Ahmed presented the survey findings at a programme at Krishibid Institution in the city on Wednesday.

Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the programme.

The ANGeL research design included five interventions -- T1 Nutrition BCC (DAE), T2 Nutrition BCC (trained community women), T3 Agriculture production (DAE), T4 Agriculture+Nutrition (DAE) and T5 Agriculture+Nutriton+Gender) (Heller Keller International).

IFPRI conducted the baseline survey before the start of the project activities (November 2015-January 2016) and the end-line survey shortly after the end of the project activities (December to March 2018).

A total of 4000 households in 16 rural upazilas of 16 districts were selected for the survey.

Under the project, 3125 rural farm households were given training on nutrition, agriculture and gender for over 17 months.

Before the start of the training, the survey participants were given 15 questions on agricultural production practices.

The questions were related to preparation of pits and beds for vegetable production, selection of quality seeds and fertilisers, seed storage and organic methods of controlling pests.

It was found that men's knowledge of agricultural production improved, especially with an agriculture component. But the impacts on women's knowledge were even greater.

Men adopted more improved agricultural production practices after the training while women have even greater rate of adoption of better practices.

The survey found that all interventions significantly improved the nutrition knowledge, with women outperforming men.

It also found a big improvement in WASH practice following nutrition training. Household diet quality also improved.

"I am pleased to see significant gains in women's control of income, asset ownership and production," Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said.

The interactive training have played a major role in promoting better agricultural production practices and healthy food habits and building strong relationship among family members, she said.

She also said the government is developing stress-resistant varieties of crops to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.

[email protected]