Assessment of Farmers’ Knowledge on Nutrition and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture
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Authors
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P N Fatheen Abrar
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
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Satyapriya
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
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Sukanya Barua
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
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Girijesh Singh Mahra
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
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Sitaram Bishnoi
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
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Mrinmoy Ray
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
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Shakeel Ahmad Khan
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
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Surjya Kanta Roy
ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata
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Amandeep Ranjan
Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi
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Rajat Kumar Nath
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Keywords:
Nutrition-sensitive agriculture, Knowledge test, Southern India, Regression analysis, Socio-economic characteristicsAbstract
Nutritional knowledge plays a vital role in shaping the dietary behaviour of individuals and communities. This study assessed farmers’ knowledge of nutrition and nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) in the southern Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka during 2024-25. A standardized knowledge test comprising 26 statements was developed and administered to a sample of 300 respondents. Statistical analyses, including Welch’s t-test, Welch’s ANOVA, and the Games-Howell post-hoc test, were used to compare knowledge scores across states and districts. In addition, regression analysis was employed to examine the relationship between farmers’ knowledge and socio-economic characteristics. State- and district-level comparisons indicated that farmers from Kerala had higher knowledge levels than those from Karnataka. Regression analysis revealed that factors such as education, gender, age, source of information, number of trainings attended, and family size significantly influenced farmers’ knowledge. These disparities underscore the necessity of awareness campaigns and capacity-building programs on nutrition and NSA, particularly through educational institutions, rural organizations, and mass media platforms.
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