Considering the utmost importance of food security concerns, AFPRO has initiated a project “Ensuring food security through community participation” in three states of India viz., Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra with the help of United Way, Mumbai as funding support partner. The reasons behind selection of these three states for this project are the prevalence of rainfed agriculture, limited irrigation facilities, single crop cultivation and unawareness of vegetable cultivation. In addition, the present trend of farming system in these areas also indicates less awareness of farmers for crop planning and management. Which in turn influence on the nutritional intake of the families.

 Objective of the Project:

1. To increase the nutritional intake and overall well being of the families inhabiting in the project villages

2. To bring about an increase in the food production and security of target population.

3. Building capacities of the farmers on improve agricultural practices as a source of improved livelihood and income generation.

4. To bring behavioral changes of the community on sanitation, health and hygiene through awareness camps / trainings and demonstration activities

   5.   Maternal & Child Health & Promotion of Health Seeking Behavior

For achieving the above objectives of the project, AFRPO’s regional offices in each state identified local partner organization for implementing the project. The teams of AFPRO are responsible for timely monitoring of planned activities, extending backup support and facilitate trainings for the partners for implementation.

 The major activities planned under the project are as follows:

1. Community organization and capacity building through committee formation, strengthening of SHGs and carrying out various IEC activities.

2. Conducting theme based trainings on nutritional cooking classes, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, village health consultations with the support of Anganwadi & health worker, integrated crop management which includes, seed treatment measures, integrated pest management, crop planning, appropriate application of fertilizer.

3. Demonstrating models for the homestead gardens, crop management and low cost sanitation measures.

4. Establish strong linkages with various government departments to mobilize the resources and inputs to achieve the project goals. 

The project was launched in April 2008. At the end of two year the outputs of each and every activity have been found most satisfactory from both qualitative and quantitative points of view.

 Women groups both in the form of Mahila Vikas Mandal (MVM) and the Adolescent Girls group have been formed and all these groups are now functional and gradually becoming more active and vibrant. Adolescent girls have started discussing their health issues in groups and consulting with medical staff.

 Traditionally, the community had no habit of consuming of green vegetables. Initially changing their mind set and food habit was difficult. But due to increase in awareness on importance of green vegetables and nutritious food among the women, they have adopted the practice of cooking green vegetables and started to develop homestead garden. Now women’s from villages participating in meetings regularly and planning for organizing project activities as kitchen gardening and awareness camps etc. The training programme for kitchen garden and mix cropping system have been evolved under the project so that families can get food from their own land. Now families are actively participating in the development of kitchen gardens and they are also adopting new methods of sowing of various crops.

 The project activities related to public health and sanitation awareness level of the community with respect to use of toilets has been raised. This has ultimately resulted into decrease in open defecation by the community and increase in the rate of toilet construction by the families.  The health related training has also resulted in regularity in health check ups by pregnant women.

 Benefit of this project to the  community:

• Village level institutions/groups like Food security committee, SHGs, Group of Adolescent girls, Balmanch etc are formed and systematic capacity building input has been provided to these groups on the concept, need and their roles and responsibilities.
• Through various theme based training programs issues like malnutrition, maternal and child health, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation etc have been analyzed and input have been given to the community to address these issues systematically.
• Total 1060 house holds were benefitted from the distribution of vegetable seeds like Bhindi, Brinjals, cucumber, pumpkin and Vetch. MVM has played the major role in selection of beneficiaries and distribution of seeds. 227 numbers of house hold were also benefitted by the distribution of vegetable plant in Gujarat.
• The Agriculture income of the community was enhanced by cultivating azolla and feeding it to the milch animals, which improves the quality and quantity of milk. Azolla is cultivated by using plastic sheet and a selection committee was formed for purchasing the plastic sheets. The committee purchased 50 sheets and distributed to those who have livestock among 1000 families in Andhra Pradesh.