Improving The Nutritional Status of Tea Farming Families in Indonesia

Background/Aims: Business Watch Indonesia and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition co-created the Nutrition Tea Project in Indonesia aimed to improve food and nutrition of 32,000 tea farmer families, living in 14 different tea producing districts in West and Central Java. The three sub-objectives of the program were: 1) to enhance the awareness of these tea farmer households regarding the importance of nutrition; 2) to increase the availability and accessibility of nutritious foods for these tea farmer households; and 3) to establish a support system for improving nutrition in these 14 districts. Methods: To measure the impact of the intervention, data on perception, production and consumption of foods was collected in two cross-sectional surveys among 252 female respondents at baseline and end-line. The number of respondents cultivating vegetables increased from 19% at baseline to 72% at endline. Results: Growing fruits increased from 26% at baseline to 73% at endline and breeding animals increased from 28% to 72%. The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women, defined as at least five of the ten food groups, increased significantly from 3 [IQR: 3;5] at baseline to 5.5 [IQR: 4;7] at endline. In cash crop value chains worldwide, the farmers that feed the world suffer from an inadequate diet themselves. The success of this intervention is in its simplicity. Farmers are familiar with cultivation of crops and know about the different types of foods. Conclusion: The concept of a diverse diet is easily understood and farmers are able to start their own home garden.