In previous blogs, we described the accomplishments and challenges associated with the implementation of Phase-I of the Sustainable Flour Fortification Initiative (branded as “SFurtI”). This led to a very important research question: why do some people choose to buy (and repeat buy) Sfurti while others opt out? To get a detailed understanding of what drives purchasing behavior,…

In my previous blog, I described the prevalence and predicaments of open defecation (OD) in India. For my PhD thesis, I am working with GDS to make villages open defecation free (ODF) by investing in construction of toilets as well as bringing about a behavior change and estimating the impact on the adoption of toilets, child health and basic sanitation practices….

The FAO estimates that “one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally” (FAO, 2011). As I went about my summer exploratory work on food loss in India, I spent time reflecting on how ‘food loss and waste’ is defined. No harmonized definition exists, creating challenges in evaluating food loss and waste figures and…

On the 4th of July, I traveled to the Maharajganj District of Eastern Uttar Pradesh with three other TCI colleagues to study market diversity in the Pharenda Block. Our objective was to observe the variety of foods available in four markets and then convert this information into quantitative data that can be used for analysis…

Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a global, multifactorial nutritional disorder having severe health and economic implications. The burden of IDA is most prevalent in resource-limited settings that rely primarily on staple cereals and a few vegetables for nourishment. Specifically in India, anemia affects 74% children below the age of 3 years, 85% expectant mothers, and over 90% of adolescent teens1. IDA, as a…

During his summer of exploratory research, Rohil Bhatnagar has spent two months visiting rural villages in order to assess  dietary patterns, market-level food diversity, and nutritional awareness – especially around iron-deficiency anemia.  Learn more about how this fieldwork in Gujarat, Jharkhand and Bihar. Rohil Bhatnagar is a Tata-Cornell Scholar and second year PhD student at the Department of…

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have been used to help agriculture communities improve their farming knowledge and market strategies. Over the summer, Krystal Rampalli has been talking with farmers and programs across India that use ICT for Ag, to understand how these approaches might be redeployed for nutrition messaging. Krystal Rampalli is a Tata-Cornell Scholar and second…

This summer, Jocelyn Boiteau has been learning about food loss in the fruit and vegetable value chains in India. Hear from Jocelyn as she describes her exploratory research. Jocelyn Boiteau is a Tata-Cornell Scholar and second year PhD student at the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University.

For her PhD research, Payal Seth has been conducting ongoing fieldwork in Uttar Pradesh, India. In this video, Payal explains the crux of her research question and reflects on another summer of field-based research. Learn more about her research and fieldwork experiences. Payal Seth is a Tata-Cornell Scholar and third year PhD student at Cornell University’s Dyson School…

At the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI), doing applied, on-the-ground research is a serious part of our mission. We believe that academic rigor and fieldwork go hand in hand. In this panel, Tata-Cornell Scholars discuss what they’ve gained from their experiences conducting a year of intensive fieldwork in India. Panel Moderator: Prabhu Pingali Professor of Applied Economics…