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Project Title

Dietary diversity and nutritive value of indigenous foods in addressing food security and nutritional status of vulnerable tribal communities of India

Project Type

Research

Project Overview
In Jharkhand, India, years of deficient rainfall have resulted in drought, leading to crop failure, food insecurity, and diminished livelihoods.This study is investigating the potential of indigenous foods in contributing to dietary diversity and nutritional value to improve food security in Jharkhand’s vulnerable tribal communities. The project will: map availability, access, and utilization of indigenous foods by specific tribal communities; assess any shift in dietary patterns in these communities vis-a-vis the indigenous food intake; characterize the farming system to understand constraints and opportunities for improving indigenous food production; and examine barriers and facilitators to increase production, procurement, and consumption of indigenous foods.

Project Leader(s)

Suparna Ghosh-Jerath

Additional Project Personnel

Shauna Downs, Archna Singh, Jessica Fanzo

Rutgers Departments and Schools/Units Involved

Department of Urban-Global Public Health, School of Public Health

Project Collaborators (partners external to Rutgers)

Public Health Foundation of India

Project Sponsors

Welcome Trust DBT

Project Location

Jharkhand State, India