COMPASSIONATE PROMOTION OF WELLNESS FOOD PRACTICES

Background: Since the Buddhist principle of Metta/compassion is hardly being considered in conventional food security strategies, following research and development project has been implemented with the objective of fulfilling the wellness food Practices (WFP) through A Metta-based Timely Approach (MTA). Methods: As per the MTA, the trainers were trained to acquire relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA) in both secular and spiritual perspectives based on the Teachings of Indigenous Medical Practice (IMP). It was followed by Transfer of such KSA regarding WFP to beneficiaries. Eleven variables have been used to evaluate the outcome quantitatively during the time period from 2013 (at the commencement) to March 2025. Results: Results pertaining to following variables were obtained comparatively. Qualified Trainers (QT) and Compassionate Awareness Programs (CAP) conducted by them had reported 10 and 2.7 times increase respectively. The number of Indigenous Healthy Food Crops (IHFC) being utilized, Extent of Compassionate Paddy Farming (CPF), number of Paddy Farmers (PF) who engaged in Compassionate Food Production Practices (CFPP), amount of Paddy Yield (PY) so obtained and amount of Paddy Sold (PS) were multiplied by 05, 100, 04, 25 and 32 times in their sequence. Number of IHFC dependent Commodities (IC), Healthy Food Serving Events (HSE), Healthy Food-based Manufacturers and Sellers (HFMS) and Number of Positive Healthy Outcomes (PHO) had risen in their order by 13, 10 and 25 factors of multiplication. Conclusion: Increasing trend of being more compassionate and being adhered to WFP as supported by positive agronomic, economic and health outcomes were seen and that preliminary evidence has shown to be successful at promoting WFP through MTA. Recommendations: Further confirmation of MTA is suggested in wellness food security initiatives.