The review meeting of Nutri-Smart Village Programme was organized under the chairmanship of hon’ble Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR in hybrid mode at ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar on 25th April, 2022 in which 58 AICRP scientists from 13 centres in 12 states and 17 scientists from ICAR-CIWA were present. At the outset, Dr. Anil Kumar, Director, ICAR-CIWA welcomed all participants and highlighted about nutritional awareness, establishment of nutri-gardens, homestead agriculture implemented by the Institute and AICRP centres under the Nutri-Smart Village Programme.

Dr. P. S. Pandey, ADG (EP&HS) discussed about the restructuring and reorienting of AICRP (Women in Agriculture) for better implementation of the Nutri-Smart Village Programme by associating Anganwadi/ Community Workers. Dr. Lipi Das, Principal Scientist (Agril. Extension) & Nodal, AICRP (WIA) presented the salient achievements of Nutri-Smart Village Programme.

A short video prepared on Poshan Mela held on 22 April, 2022 at ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar was played and the exhibition stalls were put up showcasing different nutri-based value added products prepared by the farm women of Nutri-Smart Village Programme. Hon'ble DG, ICAR appreciated the promotion of local recipes addressing malnutrition in the community.

Dr. Mohapatra in his remarks highlighted about the Nutri-Smart Village Programme as a national responsibility to develop model villages showing Agri-Nutri linkage to address malnutrition in the country. He advised the scientists to select the appropriate interventions based on the baseline survey, clinical analysis, nutritional profile of the food items and nutritional gap existing in the villages and school children should be involved for nutrition awareness and education. He urged the scientists to establish market linkage of nutri-based food items based on the local recipes and value added products. He also interacted with scientists of ICAR-CIWA and AICRP (Women in Agriculture) virtually.

At the end, Dr. A. K. Panda, Principal Scientist & Nodal, PME proposed the vote of thanks for the successful completion of the review meeting.