Guwahati — A six-month pilot program aimed at reducing child malnutrition through the incorporation of nutrient-rich small fish powder into children’s diets has demonstrated significant success in Kamrup district. Initiated during the Poshan Maah celebration in September 2023, the program has led to marked improvements in children’s health indicators, including reductions in underweight conditions and severe stunting.
The project, titled “Pilot cum Scaling: Inclusion of Nutrient-Dense Small Fish Powder in Diets among Pre-School Children of Anganwadi Centres and LP School Children through a Partnership Approach at Bongaon Block in Kamrup District of Assam,” published its findings on August 8. The initiative was spearheaded by the Kamrup district administration with technical support from WorldFish, a CGIAR research organization, and financial backing from the APART Project of ARIAS Society in collaboration with the Assam Department of Fisheries.
Targeting 55 Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and 43 lower primary schools, the program reached around 3,300 children. District Commissioner Keerthi Jalli presented the findings on August 8, highlighting the substantial impact of the intervention.
Key outcomes of the pilot study include a significant decrease in underweight and severely stunted children. The proportion of underweight children in AWCs dropped from 13.79% to 8.33%, and severely underweight children decreased from 1.82% to 0.15%. Severe stunting rates in the treatment group fell from 14.39% to 10.76%. Among lower primary school students, average body mass index (BMI) increased from 15.54 to 16.11, average weight rose from 23.83 kg to 25.12 kg, and average height grew from 122.83 cm to 123.95 cm.
The integration of small fish powder into the diet of pre-school and primary school children was a novel approach in India. Children received meals fortified with fish powder three times a week, with each serving containing seven grams for AWCs and eight grams for LP schools.
Commissioner Jalli expressed satisfaction with the program’s outcomes, noting the marked improvements in the children’s nutritional status. “The success of this initiative demonstrates its potential for broader application. Scaling up similar interventions could significantly enhance child nutrition across Assam. The collaboration between WorldFish, local authorities, and various stakeholders presents a model that could be replicated in other regions facing similar nutritional challenges,” Jalli stated.