Out of 250 applicants, Helen Keller International’s (HKI) Homestead Food Production (HFP) program in Bangladesh has been selected to be one of 27 case studies for “Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development.” The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) initiated this research project with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. IFPRI will present evidence from case studies of current policies, programs and investments that demonstrate success in reducing poverty and hunger.
Learning from successes in agricultural development has become more urgent recently due to the volatility of global food prices and the escalating food crisis. The “Millions Fed” project offers a unique opportunity to showcase success stories that will reach a broad audience, including policymakers, development practitioners, donors, scholars, international NGOs, entrepreneurs, students, and citizens concerned about the future of global agriculture. The programs selected as case studies have had clear and measurable impacts on individual or household food security and/or income and have been demonstrated to be financially sustainable or cost-effective.
Helen Keller International’s Homestead Food Production program aims to prevent malnutrition and address the global food crisis by helping communities establish sustainable food production systems designed to meet the particular needs of each local area.
* Starting Homestead Gardens: Helen Keller International and its local NGO partners provide the technical assistance, training and supplies, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, poultry and vaccines to establish village homestead gardens at a cost of just $9 per garden. The newly-trained homestead gardeners help others in their community to establish year-round homestead gardens of their own.
* Ensuring Food Supplies: Families who maintain homestead gardens have year-round access to vegetables and fruits that provide the essential vitamins and minerals to ensure proper immune system functioning and full physical, intellectual, and cognitive development.
* Providing Additional Income: Surplus produce provides a small but vital source of income that can help families emerge from below the poverty line and gain economic independence.
* Empowering Women: The majority of homestead gardens are managed by women who are empowered by the contributions they make to the economic stability and decision-making within their households.
Helen Keller International initiated Homestead Food Production in Bangladesh in the 1990s. Its success has led to the expansion of the program to Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines. Studies in Bangladesh have shown that children in households with developed gardens consume 1.6 times more vegetables and have a lower risk of night blindness than children in homes without HFP. At a cost of just $9 to establish a homestead garden, this program is a proven, sustainable solution for preventing malnutrition, preventing blindness, and helping to reduce poverty.
Victoria Quinn, HKI’s Senior Vice President, Programs noted that, “Supporting a poor woman to grow more nutritious food while at the same time teaching her how to provide herself and her young children with the best possible nutrition is the key to preventing malnutrition and eradicating poverty in a meaningful and sustainable way.”
Founded in 1915, Helen Keller International’s (HKI) mission is to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. HKI combats the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research in vision, health and nutrition. The organization is known for sustainability, reliability, efficiency, and the highest level of technical expertise in preventing blindness and reducing malnutrition. HKI is headquartered in New York City, and has programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia as well as in the United States, addressing malnutrition (including vitamin A deficiency), cataract, trachoma, onchocerciasis (river blindness) and refractive error. HKI receives support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and other national and local governments as well as from private and corporate foundations and individuals.
For more information, visit www.hki.org or email us at [email protected].
