The Alleviating Poverty and Malnutrition in Agro-biodiversity Hotspots (APM) project was
supported by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund and implemented
jointly by the M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation and the University of Alberta in three
agro-biodiversity rich regions of India - Jeypore in Odisha, Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu, and
Wayanad in Kerala. This research-for-development project investigated the possibilities for
interventions in integrated agricultural systems to contribute towards alleviating poverty and
malnutrition among small-holder farm families. Over a period of 42 months, the project
worked in close partnerships with communities and established that integrated agricultural
systems with concurrent attention to knowledge transfer and harnessing local agrobiodiversity
can provide cost-effective and sustainable solutions to poverty and nutrition
problems.Through extensive primary surveys and analysis of secondary information, it was
established that rural poverty persists in these areas as a result of low agricultural
productivity among small and marginal farmers thus declining on-farm incomes, limited
opportunities for off-farm employment and isolation from markets and public services. These
areas are characterized by having 60-85% of households below the official poverty line
category with low nutritional status (malnourishment, anemia, stunting or underweight)
especially among women and children. The project also attempted to enhance capacity and
human skills for making appropriate choices and decisions on farm management, family diet,
and adoption of new enterprises.