Presentation by panelist Anu Garg, IAS on 'Aquatic foods for healthy people and planet' at the UN Food System Pre-Summit Affiliated Session on Monday, 26 July 2021.

2. UN Food Systems Pre-Summit Affiliated Session; July 26, 2021
Aquatic foods for healthy people & planet:
Fish Based Nutrition For Children & Women in Odisha, India
Anu Garg, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha, India

3. • Odisha, a state on the eastern coast of India, has a
population of 45 million
• 29% of the children below 6 are stunted (CNNS 2017-18)
• Reduction of undernutrition is a priority of the state
• 4.24 million children (below 6) and pregnant & nursing women are
registered under Supplementary Nutrition Program
• Hot Cooked Meals and Take Home Ration provided to the
beneficiaries
Prioritising Reduction in Undernutrition

4. Multi-pronged Approach for Nutrition
‘SOPAN’:
State
nutrition
strategy
Improving
quality of
nutrition
Care for
children
under 3s
Integrated
Child
Developme
nt Services
Targeted
approach
for hard to
reach areas
Dietary
diversity
Manageme
nt of
Severe
Acute
Malnutritio
n
Adolescent
nutrition
Focussed
IEC for
nutrition

5. Fish Based Nutrition State Nutrition Strategy – SOPAN

6. Fast-tracking Reduction of Micronutrient Deficiencies Through Fish
• 95% people in Odisha consume fish
• Per capita consumption 16 kg/year
• Fish in abundance in marine and inland
waters justifies inclusion of fish in state
nutrition program
• 4th largest fish producing state:873,000 MT
• Scope for producing more fish:
• 480 kms coastline
• 1.10 million hectares tanks, reservoirs,
lakes, rivers, estuaries etc

7. Interaction with WorldFish scientists for:
• Policies and programs to promote nutrition-sensitive fish production systems
• Promotion of fish consumption in vulnerable communities

8. MoU Signed with WorldFish in Nov,2020 for Inclusion of Fish based Nutrition
in SNP

9. 1. Piloting of fish based nutrition in 50 Anganwadi Centers
2. Hygienic solar drying of fish by Women SHGs for open market &
ICDS SNP:
– 50 solar driers per year under MSME Department
– Marine small fish - Anchovies, sardines are dried
3. Nutrition-sensitive carp mola polyculture in freshwater tanks for
household level consumption
– Fish farming in Gram Panchayat tanks by Women SHGs – 6000
tanks over last 3 years
– Household backyard tanks – 789 tanks
Activities for Increasing Availability, Accessibility & Consumption of Small
Fish

10. Piloting of Fish Inclusion in SNP
In 50 Anganwadis (Child Care Centers) in Mayurbhanj District

11. Purpose of the Study & Expected Outcomes
Purpose
• To improve the dietary diversity and micronutrient
intakes of women & children covered in SNP
• To test the acceptability of dried fish products
(eg. taste, ease-of-use) by tribal community & Angwandi Workers
Expected Outcomes
• Enhanced dietary diversity
• Enhanced micronutrient intake
• Community need-based intervention
• Promotion of healthier eating habits
• Promotion of local and culturally appropriate foods

12. Hot Cooked Meal to 1200 children;
Take Home Ration to 800 pregnant & nursing women & adolescent girls
Based on the outcomes & experiences, Government would take steps to upscale this program across
the state
Fish powder used in
Hot Cooked Meal
8 grams/day/child,
5 days a week
Dried fish packets in
Take Home Ration
40 grams/day/adult;
3 days a week

13. Marine small fishes such as Anchovies, Sardines
are dried by Women Self Help Groups
Solar Dried Fish by Women SHGs
• “One District One Product” program under Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of MSME Scheme
• 50 solar fish driers every year
• At least 1500 women in coastal fishing villages generate additional income from this business venture
Low-cost Solar Fish Drier

14. Fish Farming in Gram Panchayat Tanks (Community Tanks) by Women SHGs
• > 6000 WSHGs; > 60,000 women started this fish farming venture for additional income and nutritional gains
• Government invested USD 6 million in last 3 years

15. Institutional Convergence
1. Fisheries & Animal Resources Development
2. Women & Child Development
3. Mission Shakti Development
4. Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Development
5. Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Development
Institutes
1. ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology
2. ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute
3. MS Swaminathan Research Foundation
4. Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar
Private Sector
1. Falcon Marine Exports Ltd., Bhubaneswar
2. Ruchi Foodlines Pvt. Ltd., Cuttack
Convergence & Collaborations

16. Challenges
• Production of dry fish hygienically
• Supply chain – Procurement from outside the state
(Central Institute for Fisheries Technologies, Cochin)
• Acceptance of taste of fish powder by children
• Counselling on consumption of dry small fish
product
• Disasters – COVID & YAAS; counselling at home

17. • Political will, blended with proactive bureaucracy,
help grounding initiatives
• Inter-departmental convergence important
• Technical inputs critical - WorldFish, now an
important partner
• Partnership with national ICAR research institutes
has helped develop age-specific fish-based products
& design large scale delivery mechanisms
• Involvement of women in livelihood support and food
security
Lessons Learned and Way Forward

18. Thank You