Background: Being active and adhering to a right dietary regime perpetuates physiological, psychological and social health of the individual. To ameliorate nutritional well-being at the time of Covid 19 especially among farmers still a challenge due to lack of awareness & nutrition education program. Farmers are prominent in our nation and source of dependent for safe food; they are unperturbed about their dietary pattern which effectuates illness, infection and diseases among farmers. Hence it is necessary to study about their dietary pattern, and educate those regarding safe eating practices, and to sustain good hygiene practices during Covid 19. Objectives: The present study was conducted to elicit information regarding the socio demographic profile, medical history and dietary pattern of the farmers. To conduct and to analyze the effect of nutrition education program using the pretest and post test questionnaire. Methodology: This experimental research was conducted among one hundred and sixty farmers between 20 to 60 years of age residing in the villages of Ramanathapuram district - Tharakudi and Kokkarasankottai respectively using an Interview schedule. This study was conducted in the period of October 2020 to April 2021 after first wave hits India. Flex, Posters and Pamphlets were prepared and used as a tool for conducting Nutrition Education Program. Culmination of Nutrition education program was live demonstration and distribution of Foxtail millet pongal and kabasura kudineer to the farmers as to ignite the importance of traditional millets consumption, locally available fruits and Zinc and Vitamin C rich foods in farmer’s diet to combat the transmission of virus. Pre test and Post test questionnaire were used to assess the practice of eating right and to appraise the impact of nutrition education program. Statistical analysis’t’ test was used to determine the significance of the nutrition education program. Results: Majority thirty five percent of the farmers aged above 50 and ninety-five percent of the farmers are re-using the oil which may induce affliction among farmers. It has been found that forty-nine percent of the farmers reported with knee & joint pain and twenty-six percent of the farmers had hyper tension. Almost all the farmers are including cereals daily in their diet and Palm oil is the main source of oil which was used in their cooking widely beside sunflower oil. Live demonstration of Foxtail millet pongal and kabasura kudineer were administered. Group counseling and in matter of necessity, personal counseling was also given to the farmers. Result reveals that there is a significant difference (p<0.05) before and after the nutrition education program. Conclusion: Value of Traditional foods, consumption of fruits and vegetables has been re-recognized during the times of Covid -19. Nevertheless they don’t give great significance to their dietary pattern, Nutrition Education Program was conducted to empower the farmers and to fill the knowledge gap in choosing the right foods based on their activity pattern.
Farmers, Dietary Pattern, Eat right, Covid 19, MGNREGA, Nutrition Education Program
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