Introduction Agriculture and livestock interventions today are market and income driven. Lack of knowledge and market domination makes rural communities vulnerable to climate change risks, which in turn increases poverty due to decreased yield and crop failures. While rural communities are more able to cope with climate variability when growing traditional crops, as they can fall back on indigenous knowledge and experience, it is especially in regard to the newly introduced crops or resource intensive cultivation practices where they are most vulnerable. Moreover the extensive dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides makes long term agriculture unviable, besides degrading soil quality and fertility, thus affecting crop production and crop-biodiversity. Empowerment in food and nutrition security (FNS) implies that communities have knowledge of a balanced diet and obtain the same from traditional food crops as also from other food grains, even if recently introduced. Emphasis is on knowledge and the enabling environment for communities to grow their own food and meet nutritional demands on their own. This reduces the burden on the state to provide food aid. Knowledge will put a value to indigenous food biodiversity and will ensure inter-generational transfer and its protection. Key Issues Factors affecting food and nutritional security Addressing food and nutrition security is complex due to its dependence on many interconnected aspects - availability, quality, nutritional value, equitable access and sustainability to which are further influenced by climatic and non climatic factors. Climate change is an additional burden. It makes the FNS situation more complex as it directly impacts the ecosystems from which all food production systems are sourced. The pressures of meeting the demand of an increasing population and growing urbanization have led to a shift from locally grown indigenous varieties of crops into new to the region commercial crops and hybrid varieties. Approach to ensure Food and Nutrition Security Enhancing and sustaining the quality of the resource base through a watershed development approach plays an important role in securing water and achieving overall development of a region. This contributes to an improved nutritional status. FNS can be ensured when improvement in the nutritional status of children and adults is included as an expected outcome of watershed development and natural resources management projects. Planning in terms of quality and quantity to meet a balanced diet, needs to be included in the household's plans and budget. Mixed farming systems are important as they provide for plant and animal products in the food basket. Indigenous varieties of grain and livestock that are best suited to the particular agro-ecological zone need to be promoted. Empowering the people and village community through Information, Knowledge and Capacity Building (IKCb) is key to self reliance for FNS. Food and nutrition security can be addressed through improved awareness among the population about the importance of a balanced diet, with a focus on regional and traditionally grown foods. IKCb which engages a community can greatly contribute to planning and action at the village and cluster level. Key Recommendations Including "improvement of the nutritional status" as an expected impact in Natural Resource Management projects will contribute to reducing malnutrition in children and women in rural India. Strategies need to be followed to sensitize people on the importance of healthy food habits and a balanced diet. Women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) play a major role in ensuring food and nutrition security to all families, and in particular, the women and children of a village. This will ensure its continuity in practice. Similarly, farmers' groups or clubs play a major role in promoting good agriculture and livestock practices within a village. Dissemination of information through the print media, radio and television broadcasts, Short Message Services (SMS) and even word of mouth makes people aware of the need for food and nutrition security and the consequences thereof, if otherwise. Excerpts from article by Marcella D’Souza, Suchita Awasthi and Lalita Joshi Source: WOTR website