Fish Powder: Fish Powder in Diet Reducing Child Malnutrition in Kamrup District | Guwahati News

Guwahati: A six-month pilot programme aimed at combating child malnutrition by incorporating nutrient-dense small fish powder into children’s diets has yielded significant positive results in Kamrup district. Launched during the Poshan Maah celebration in September 2023, the initiative has led to a notable reduction in underweight and severe stunting among children, while also improving their body mass index (BMI).
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,” released its findings on Aug 8, highlighting substantial improvements in children’s health.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 department of fisheries, Assam, the project has shown promising results.

Targeting 55 anganwadi centres (AWCs) and 43 lower primary schools, the initiative reached approximately 3,300 children. Kamrup district commissioner Keerthi Jalli formally presented the findings during a programme held on Aug 8.
The results of the pilot study revealed significant improvements in children’s nutritional status. Key findings include a reduction in underweight conditions and severe stunting among children. The data underscores the effectiveness of integrating small fish powder into government supplementary nutrition programs, suggesting broader potential for implementation.
DC Keerthi Jalli said, “The inclusion of small fish in meals significantly reduced the percentage of underweight children in AWCs from 13.79% to 8.33%. The proportion of severely underweight children in the treatment group dropped from 1.82% to 0.15%, while the proportion of severely stunted children decreased from 14.39% to 10.76% in the treatment group compared to the control group. Among LP school children, the average BMI increased from 15.54 to 16.11, the average weight from 23.83 kg to 25.12 kg, and the average height from 122.83 cm to 123.95 cm in the treatment group.”
Fish is a staple in Assam, widely consumed and rich in essential nutrients. Recognising its potential to address nutritional deficiencies, the project focused on integrating small fish powder into the diets of pre-school and primary school children in Kamrup district’s Bongaon block. The children received meals enriched with fish powder three times a week, with each serving containing seven grams for AWCs and eight grams for LP schools. This marks the first time such an approach has been implemented in India.
Commissioner Jalli expressed satisfaction with the project’s impact, noting the significant improvements in the nutritional status of the children involved. “The success of this initiative suggests the potential for scaling up similar interventions to enhance child nutrition across Assam. The collaboration between WorldFish, local authorities, and various stakeholders showcases a model that could be extended to other regions facing similar nutritional challenges,” she added.