Vegetable vendor in central India, December 2015 (photo: P. Mondal)
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Implications of Agricultural Intensification for Diet and Nutrition in Rural India
‘Hidden hunger’ – chronic deficiency of micronutrients – affects 2 billion people around the world. Smallholder farmers (owning <2 ha farmland) are one of the most vulnerable communities to such food and nutrition insecurity. To understand the seasonal fluctuations in food security and nutrient gaps, Dr. Mondal is currently leading an inter-disciplinary project in central India, collaborating with researchers from multiple academic institutions including Columbia University, Rutgers University, McGill University, Foundation for Ecological Security (Indian NGO) and Johns Hopkins University. Read our latest ERL paper here. |
Wheat field in central India (photo: P. Mondal)
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Agricultural sensitivity, climate variability, and future food security in South Asia
Agriculture provides sustenance and livelihood for ~70% of total population in India. Significant fluctuations in crop yields are projected for near future with expected changes in future climate, leading to serious concerns about food security of the growing Indian population. Dr. Mondal is using multi-platform satellite time-series data (TRMM, MODIS, Landsat, and World View) along with district-level census data for irrigation, dominant crop type, crop yield, and socio-economic data to explore factors associated with changing crop covers in India. This project is funded through a NASA LCLUC grant awarded to Dr. Ruth DeFries. Read latest papers here, and here. |
