Awareness Programme on Nutritional Challenges and Nutri-gardens Conducted at Agricultural College, Aswaraopet on 19-03-2021

At Agricultural College, Aswaraopet, awareness programme on nutritional challenges and nutri-gardens has been conducted as a part of Poshan Pakhwada on 19-03-2021. Dr.M. Madhavi, Associate Dean, explained the students about importance of balanced diet and ill-effects of junk foods. Also stated that a balanced diet supplies the nutrients to body needs to work effectively, without balanced nutrition, body is more prone to disease, infection and low performance. Also said that children who don't get enough healthy foods may face growth and developmental problems, poor academic performance and frequent infections. Further, explained about lack of proper nutrition in pregnant women leads to several birth defects in babies. Dr.V. Venakanna, Associate Professor, Dept. of GPBR explained the students about role of essential food in immunity boost up and said that how the food habits are changing one generation to other, rural to urban areas. Dr.I.V. Srinivasa Reddy, Associate Professor, Dept. of Horticulture acted as guest of programme and enlightened the students about essentiality of vegetable and fruits in addition to the cereals, millets, pulses and oilseed. He also explained about nutrients supplied by vegetable, leafy vegetable and fruits. Also delineated the students about seven different nutrients and their role in the body. Later, he suggested the students to have their own vegetables by cultivating in nearby hostel as part of nutria-garden activity so that it will supply balanced food with no residue of pesticides. Dr. K. Gopala Krishna Murthy, Associate Professor, Dept.of GPBR also explained about malnutrition in children and pregnant womens. Also said that health issue like diabetes, blood pressure are caused due to imbalanced diet. Later NSS P.O. Dr.M. Ramprasad actively participated and explained the students about theme of poshan pakhwada. Few of the students also expressed their concern about malnutrition and wastage of food. The event was organized by NSS P.Os Dr. M. Ramprasad and Smt.D. Sravanthi. The programme was successful by participation of teaching faculty, non-teaching staff and students.