Malnourishment amongst the pre-school children (0-5yrs age group) in Uttar Dinajpur district is alarming. As data reveals from District Project Office, ICDS, Uttar Dinajpur that around 10 percent children enrolled with 3737 numbers of Anganwari centres of the district are severely under weight and defined as “Red-Children”. The Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) Uttar Dinajpur project through its 3737 service centre although provides different services including “supplementary nutrition” to the children. Keeping this alarming situation in view and considering the poor economic condition of a large section of community, Uttar Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra since its inception has taken rigorous activities for protocol development (Standardization) of various low cost nutritious weaning food utilizing locally available ingredients (Wheat, maize buckwheat, green gram, peanut, drumstick leaves etc.) through its
mandated activities of On Farm Trials. After rigorous trials through several years Uttar Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra has been able to develop and standardize several formulations of low cost weaning foods. The calorie measurement and nutritive value of the feed formulations has been tested at CFTRI, Mysore. All the feed formulations passed the criteria on calorie measurement and nutritive value as per national standards.
