The Farming System for Nutrition Advocacy project held consultation with district official in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha recently.

The objectives of the consultation were three-fold:

• To disseminate the concept of Farming System for Nutrition
• To discuss the need and scope for nutrition sensitive agriculture across the target states
• To collect district level information with respect to:
  • on-going practices in nutrition sensitive agriculture
  • constraints in practicing/promoting nutrition sensitive agriculture
  • Support system for practicing nutrition sensitive agriculture: (a) Existing schemes (b) Required support/schemes

In Maharashtra a consultation was organized during 24^th-27^th of July 2017 at YASHADA, Pune in collaboration with NIRD & PR, Hyderabad and YASHADA, Pune. The consultation was inaugurated by Dr. Siddayya, Associate Professor, NIRD & PR on the 24^th July, 2017 in the presence of Mr. Anand Pusavale, Associate Professor, YASHADA. On the 25^th and 26^th of July, the consultation was presided by Mr. Anand Pusavale of YASHADA while on the 27^th July, Dr. K. M. Nagargoje, IAS (Member Secretary, Maharashtra Council of Agricultural Education & Research) delivered the keynote address. From each district two to three officials, representing the departments of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry, participated in the one-day consultation. In addition to the district officials, scientists from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri also participated.  The consultation was well attended, with representations from 31 districts and 102 participants, over four days.

The Odisha consultation was organized for district officials of Odisha during 28^th – 29^th of August 2017 at Institution on Management for Agricultural Extension (IMAGE), Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, in collaboration with NIRD&PR, Hyderabad and IMAGE, Bhubaneshwar. In the consultation, district officials, representing the departments of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry, were invited to participate from all the districts of Odisha. In addition officials serving in the respective state departments at Bhubaneshwar also participated.  The consultation had representations from 19 districts and a total of 43 participants, over the two days.

For Andhra Pradesh, a one day consultation was held at the Extension Training Centre (ETC), Sri Kalahasti for district officials representing the departments of agriculture, animal husbandry, horticulture and fisheries on the 7^th September 2017. The consultation had representations from 13 districts with a total of 29 participants, including 8 faculty members from ETC. The consultation was organized by the MSSRF in collaboration with NIRD&PR, Hyderabad and ETC, Sri Kalahasti. The consultation was inaugurated by Dr. Radhika, Associate Professor, NIRD & PR in the presence of Ms. Prasanthi, Acting Principal, ETC.