“In the month of February, when I sowed seeds in my Nutri garden, I had no idea how valuable it would turn out to be. Now, in my small garden, I grow sponge gourd, ridged gourd, bottle gourd, cucumber and string beans,” says Asha Bharti, a mother of three. 

The global pandemic, followed by the nationwide lockdown in India from 24 March 2020, brought all activity to a halt and disrupted life across the country. Lockdown meant no work, no wages, and consequently, no food, especially for casual labourers and landless families. For mothers, living in cramped homes with limited space, managing household chores while keeping their children engaged indoors was a constant challenge. 

Amidst these challenges around food and nutrition security, World Vision (WV) India staff in Khagaria, Bihar, noticed a renewed appreciation for Nutri gardens in one of the communities they serve. The Nutri Garden Programme, launched by WV India in 2018, has proven beneficial to families with malnourished children. These gardens typically include leafy greens and a variety of vegetables such as sponge gourd, bottle gourd, ridged gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, beetroot, string beans, green chilli, and okra. During the lockdown, Nutri gardens provided families with easy access to fresh, nutritious food. 

According to the National Family Health Survey (2015–2016), stunting affects 49.8% of children under five in Khagaria district, and 42.4% are underweight. 

Undernourished individuals have weaker immune systems and are more vulnerable to illness — particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Good nutrition is a key line of defence against the virus. COVID-19 has further exposed the vulnerabilities in our already fragile food systems (Global Nutrition Report, 2020). 

Asha Bharti, a homemaker and mother to three young children, Agradeep (6), Akansha (5), and Sanjana (3), lives with her husband, Sandeep Tanti, a daily wage labourer, in one of the communities of Khagaria. In February, with support from WV India staff, she started her own Nutri garden in front of her home. Little did she know how crucial it would become during a global health crisis. 

Sanjana, Asha’s youngest daughter, plays around the garden and excitedly pulls out a sponge gourd, asking, “Cook me this, please!” Asha beams with pride as she tends to her garden, feeling inspired to grow more vegetables to feed her children. These vegetables are now a vital part of her family’s diet providing the energy, vitamins, antioxidants, fibre, and water content essential for good health. They also help protect her children from future diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. A healthy diet requires plenty of vegetables alongside a variety of foods from other major food groups. 

The support Asha received in February was timely. Now, with no work and local markets closed, she is extremely grateful for her Nutri garden. “During this difficult COVID-19 lockdown period, the garden helped me feed my family and keep us nourished,” she says. Asha also attends monthly mothers’ meetings, where she learns about healthy cooking and hygiene practices. 

During the lockdown, Nutri gardens have brought happiness to homes and smiles to the faces of children. A total of 4,443 families like Asha’s have been supported with Nutri gardens by WV India across Bihar including 1,800 in Khagaria, 1,137 in Saharsa, 1,126 in Madhepura, and 380 in Nawada. 

WV India’s COVID response in the community: 

WV India staff have been actively engaged in raising awareness about COVID-19 and distributing masks, sanitisers, and thermal scanners to frontline health workers. Additionally, food baskets have been provided to families of pregnant women and severely malnourished children. 

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*Nutri garden / kitchen garden programme is an initiative by WV India for families of identified malnourished children in the community. These families are supported with seeds and saplings at the household level and through Anganwadi centres. Typically, the kitchen garden is set up in a space of approximately 4,900 sq. feet, either behind or in front of the beneficiary’s home. WV India staff train families to grow a wide range of vegetables, including hybrid seeds, to increase food diversity and improve the nutrition of the household — especially for children who are malnourished. 

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