Developing the NOMI framework for food and nutrition security in a climate-exposed delta: qualitative evidence from the Indian Sundarbans.
The NOMI framework offers a new perspective on food and nutrition security by emphasizing the interplay of ecological factors and social equity, particularly in vulnerable coastal regions.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the dsip corpusSummary and findings
This study develops the NOMI framework to analyze food and nutrition security in the Indian Sundarbans, focusing on socioecological interactions and lived experiences. Data were collected through household interviews (n=40), focus group discussions (n=7), and expert consultations (n=5). The findings highlight the complexities of food security shaped by ecological stressors and social inequities.
Abstract
<h4>Introduction</h4>Conventional food and nutrition security frameworks often priorities availability and access but insufficiently capture lived experience, socioecological interactions, equity, adaptive capacity, and knowledge plurality in climate-exposed settings. This study develops the NOMI framework to analyse food and nutrition security in the Indian Sundarbans, a delta shaped by salinity intrusion, recurrent cyclones, livelihood precarity, and institutional fragmentation.<h4>Methods</h4>An exploratory qualitative study was conducted across six administrative blocks: Sagar, Namkhana, Kakdwip, Patharpratima, Gosaba, and Sandeshkhali II. Data comprised household interviews (n = 40), focus group discussions (n = 7), expert consultations (n = 5), and ethnographic field notes. Bengali interviews and discussions were audio-recorded with consent, transcribed verbatim, and analysed in ATLAS.ti using reflexive thematic analysis and abductive synthesis.<h4>Results</h4>Ten thematic clusters showed that food and nutrition security is negotiated through rice-centred diets, seasonal monotony, limited animal-source foods, ecological degradation, institutional frictions, embodied stress, adaptive coping, gendered allocation, territorial marginalisation, and changing local foodways. Cross-theme synthesis produced four NOMI pillars: Nutrition as a Socioecological System, Observational Resilience, Multi-Lens Equity, and Inclusive Knowledge. These patterns were shaped by ecological stressors such as salinity intrusion, cyclones, and erosion, alongside fragile livelihoods and fuel and water constraints affecting utilisation. Households sustained food access through storage, substitution including wild foods, safety nets, livelihood diversification, and migration. However, vulnerability remained unevenly distributed. Women consistently ate last and least, while landless and island-based households faced compounded disadvantage. Traditional foodways supported resilience but were eroding and remained under-recognised.<h4>Conclusions</h4>NOMI provides a middle-range, mechanism-focused framework for climate-vulnerable coastal contexts. By foregrounding ecological feasibility, adaptive practice, structural inequity, and knowledge legitimacy, it can strengthen interpretation of performance and equity gaps in platforms such as ICDS, school meals, and the Public Distribution System, while supporting nutrition-sensitive One Health programming.
Background
This paper addresses the inadequacies of conventional food and nutrition security frameworks, which often overlook socioecological interactions and lived experiences, particularly in climate-exposed settings. Previous studies have primarily focused on availability and access, neglecting the complexities of adaptive capacity and equity. The NOMI framework aims to fill this gap by providing a more nuanced understanding of food security in the Indian Sundarbans, an area facing significant ecological challenges.
Methods
An exploratory qualitative study was conducted involving six administrative blocks in the Indian Sundarbans. Data collection included 40 household interviews, 7 focus group discussions, and 5 expert consultations. The analysis utilized reflexive thematic analysis and abductive synthesis, with data transcribed verbatim and analyzed using ATLAS.ti.
Results
The study identified ten thematic clusters related to food and nutrition security, emphasizing the negotiation of food access through various socioecological factors. Vulnerability was found to be unevenly distributed among households, with women and marginalized groups facing compounded disadvantages. Specific coping strategies included storage, substitution with wild foods, and livelihood diversification.
Interpretation
The findings highlight the importance of considering socioecological systems in food security frameworks, aligning with previous literature that emphasizes the role of ecological stressors and social inequities. However, the qualitative nature of the study limits the ability to draw broad conclusions applicable to other contexts. The small sample size and focus on a specific region may confound the generalizability of the results.
Key findings
- n=40 household interviews conducted across six administrative blocks.
- Ten thematic clusters identified related to food and nutrition security.
- Women consistently ate last and least, indicating gendered allocation of food resources.
- Households sustained food access through storage, substitution, and safety nets.
Limitations
- Qualitative study with limited generalizability.
- Small sample size (n=40) may not capture broader trends.
- Context-specific findings may not apply to other regions.
- No quantitative data reported to support findings.