Anganwadi centres in Karimnagar to grow vegetables under Poshan Vatika scheme

To ensure nutritious meals for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, the government will grow vegetables in selected anganwadi centres under the Poshan Vatika scheme. Centres will receive seeds and funds for organic cultivation, aiming to tackle price hikes and chemical usage.

Karimnagar: To provide nutritious food to children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, the government has decided to grow vegetables in anganwadi centres.

Along with pre-primary education, anganwadi centres currently supply nutritious meals to children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Until now, vegetables have been procured from markets, creating difficulties when required items were unavailable. Frequent price hikes and excessive use of chemical fertilisers in commercial cultivation have been additional concerns.

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To address this, the Centre has launched nutri-gardens under the Poshan Vatika scheme, encouraging organic farming practices in anganwadi centres. Initially, the programme will be implemented in centres that operate from their own buildings or where land is available.

As part of the scheme, six varieties of seeds, namely tomato, brinjal, ladyfinger, spinach, amaranth and fenugreek, are being supplied through the National Seed Development Corporation. Each anganwadi centre will receive Rs.10,000 annually for five years to maintain vegetable gardens, with funds earmarked for land levelling, fertile soil, organic inputs, fencing and other needs.

In Karimnagar urban CDPO limits, 35 centres have been selected out of 172, and seed kits have already been distributed. Cultivation has begun in some centres following the release of funds.