Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

Perfil de los miembros
Buscar todos los miembros

Dr. Rengalakshmi Raj

Miembro desde
Organización: M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation
País: India
Campo(s) de especialización:
I am working on:

Gender, Climate and Development, Transformation of food systems, climate information services, and Farmers institutions

She is a development researcher and field-level practitioner in the field of Sustainable Development. She has hands-on experience working at the practice and policy levels on sustainable livelihoods, food systems, climate change, ICTs for development, and gender. Her research interests include interdisciplinary research on technologies, institutions, and policies on agricultural production systems and rural development.  

 

Este miembro contribuyó a:

    • Dear sir/madam,

      In the pre green revolution period women and men have a more or less equal role in soil and land management especially in the post-harvest and non-cropping seasons like removal of perennial weeds and stones, strengthening the bunds, application of FYM and tank silts etc along with a selection of crops and cropping system in the main sowing season. The associated traditional knowledge of soil properties was also rich and gendered. However, after the introduction of chemical fertilizers and intensive farming, the role of women in soil health management has been changing with lesser roles and decision-making power. This is the prevailing scenario irrespective of the ownership of land. Even though women have access to land, adoption of improved technologies is largely constrained by the limited access to recent technologies, institutional linkages to avail inputs and services, social norms that restricts her interaction with outside male service providers and restricted mobility. But this inequality continues now in the context of feminization of labour forces and management in farming in the context of men moving to non-farm livelihoods. This has implications on soil fertility and overall health.

      Regards

      Rengalakshmi

    • Dear madam/ sir

      Of the three components of nutrition, protein and micronutrient deficiencies are critical. Here attention is needed at the production domain to produce nutrient-dense foods. This is in the context of the recent studies among different production systems and its nutrient profile, showed that organic and sustainable production systems help to produce products with high nutrient contents, especially micronutrients and vitamins. Hence focus on supply side issues needs equal attention.



      Regards

      Rengalakshmi

    • Dear FSN Forum,

      I would like to share a specific example with reference to dietary diversity, women's engagement in agricultural and ecosystem services. This is the most crucial issue in rural areas due to changes in the land use systems and practices.

      Most commonly, the changes in cropping systems as well as species growing in the common land affects their dietary diversity. In one of our field sites we observed that intake of wild greens was drastically reduced due to the changes in crops from millet species to cassava in agricultural fields and invasive growth of Lantana species in common areas which reduced the growth of such wild greens. Consequently the knowledge associated with the species, nutritional benefits and use among families declined over the last 5- 7 years among men and women. Earlier both men and women farmers were aware of the edible species and men supported in their collection while returning from the field (intake is at least five days in a week). Now the communities entirely depend upon other vegetables which are commonly available in markets. Intake rates of greens reduced to a large extent. This issue came up when we evaluated the outcomes/impacts of nutritional gardens. These insights and understanding helped the team to realign and revisit the interventions; document and share the gendered knowledge on wild green species; explore the possibility of its cultivation in the home gardens and field bunds; manage invasive species involving local PRIs; and create awareness among younger generations on local species and their importance. Identifying such nuanced field level issues and evolving strategies to address them would help to strengthen the linkages in rural areas.

      Regards

      Rengalakshmi