Gardens of cohesion

Rural Sindh faces significant challenges, including widespread food insecurity. According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), a significant portion of the rural population in Sindh experiences acute food insecurity.

For example, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, such as the IPC Pakistan Acute Food Insecurity Snapshot for April 2023, indicates that a substantial number of people in Sindh are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity. This situation is exacerbated by factors such as climate change, poverty, and limited access to resources. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognises home gardening as a crucial strategy to enhance household food security and nutrition, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Recognising these critical issues, the Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Enhancement Project (SIAPEP), a World Bank-funded initiative, implemented a ‘Kitchen Garden HEIS Drip Kit’ intervention. This component aimed to address both food security and women’s empowerment by providing 15,100 households with a comprehensive package: drip irrigation kits, 200-liter water storage tank, essential tools, quality seeds and other input, and capacity building programme.

By cultivating fresh, nutritious vegetables, families significantly improved their food security and dietary diversity. This increased access to fresh produce directly addressed the issue of malnutrition, particularly among children. And the ability to sell surplus produce in local markets generated additional income for households, empowering women to contribute to their families’ livelihoods and improve their economic standing.

Beneficiaries were selected through engaging NGOs including the Sindh Rural Support Organization, National Rural Support Program, Thardeep, Secure Islamique France, Shah Sacha Sami Foundation, etc. These organisations have been working on the ground for many years, ensuring transparency in beneficiary selection and identifying the most deserving households. This collaborative approach was a key pillar in the success of the Kitchen Garden initiative.

Impact Evaluation revealed that before the project, 45 per cent of beneficiaries had no daily vegetable meals. After the installation of the Kitchen Garden kits, this number dramatically decreased, with 56 per cent of beneficiaries enjoying at least one vegetable meal daily, while 44 per cent had two. This significant increase in vegetable consumption directly addressed the issue of malnutrition, particularly among children.

The ability to cultivate fresh, nutritious vegetables not only improved dietary diversity but also generated additional income for households. Importantly, 97 per cent of the beneficiaries for the Kitchen Garden initiatives were women, demonstrating the project’s significant role in empowering this segment of the population. This high female participation not only provided women with an opportunity to access fresh vegetables and improve the health of their families, including women, girls, children, and the elderly, but also empowered them to earn by selling surplus produce. This economic independence fostered a sense of well-being and contributed to community development within the rural communities.

SRSO’s deep-rooted presence in Sindh through community, village, and local support organizations has enabled the identification of vulnerable households and ensured equitable resource distribution through engagement of local community members. The transformative impact on women’s lives – from improved nutrition to greater economic empowerment – has been rewarding.

By scaling up this programme and similar initiatives that prioritise women’s empowerment and food security, the Sindh government can make significant strides toward building a more prosperous and equitable future for all its citizens. Extending this programme across Sindh and potentially other regions of Pakistan will enable policymakers to address several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This holistic approach will not only improve the livelihoods of millions of rural households but also contribute to the overall development of the country.

The writer is a gender expert and development professional. She can be reached at: sanakhanzada4@gmail.com