India’s food and nutrition problems continue to be formidable and malnutrition is still one of the crucial problems in the process of development. The magnitude of malnutrition and the ignorance about the relationship between food and health among a majority of the population at all levels necessitates the need for nutrition education. This approach in the long term may promote self-reliance and self-support in the communities.

In Sri Lanka, organic farmers draw inspiration from endemic practices such as home gardens or analog forestry, and have also adapted ‘imported’ ideas, such as zero-budget farming from India.

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The present study comprises of field trips in different rural localities of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. Information regarding the occurrence of plant species, their local names, parts ued, formulations and vegetable preparations through interviews and discussions held with elderly persons of rural communities were recorded. The plant specimens were identified and herbarium sheets prepared for all the species. From the information documented and also from literature data, 9 vegetable plants having high nutrient value were selected.

The present study comprises of field trips in different rural localities of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. Information regarding the occurrence of plant species, their local names, parts ued, formulations and vegetable preparations through interviews and discussions held with elderly persons of rural communities were recorded. The plant specimens were identified and herbarium sheets prepared for all the species. From the information documented and also from literature data, 9 vegetable plants having high nutrient value were selected.

Down To Earth finds out how analog forestry has created an economically productive and ecologically diverse landscape in Sri Lanka

Smallholder farming system throughout the world are believed to be potential sinks to remove atmospheric CO2. Smallholder bamboo farming system in Barak Valley, Assam, which forms a part of the traditional homegarden system, holds promise in this respect.

Wayanad, which has been in the news for the high number of farmer suicides, is also known for widespread homestead farming. A typical home garden integrates trees with field crops, livestock, poultry and fish. Home gardens form a dominant and promising land use system and maintain high levels of productivity, stability and sustainability, say A V Santhoshkumar and Kaoru Ichikawa.

Now days due to economic security, paddy-wheat rotation is prevalent in Punjab. This crop rotation has directly or indirectly caused a lot of ecological, economic and health problems. According to Indian Council of Medical Research, a healthy person should consume 300g vegetables, 40g pulses and negligible quanity of fruits per person per day.

Plants can be much more than a pretty backdrop to life. Read this and you'll never look at a garden in the same way again...

The municipality of Contagem in the State of Minas Gerais, despite being known as an industrial centre, has an enormous potential to develop urban agriculture. The current administration recognises this, and supports the development of agriculture as an important strategy for consolidating its Municipal Food and Nutritional Security Policy.