Status of Kitchen Gardening in Punjab

Abstract

Kitchen gardening project is a revolutionary step to increase vegetable production, enable people to grow insect-free vegetables gainfully using empty tins, old utensils, clay flower pots and extra space in front and backyard and provide cheap and organic vegetables to the households. The present study was conducted with the objective to study the status of kitchen gardening. This study selected the two villages and comprised of households as respondents who were adopting the kitchen gardening. Thus, a total of 79 respondents comprised the sample of the study from two villages. The data were collected through personal interview method with the help of a structured schedule. The study highlighted that half of the population from both the villages engaged in kitchen gardening and almost all the adopters procured the seeds from market shops. Most of the adopters use the produced fully at their home for their family needs. Half of the women from near the city category participating in kitchen gardening operations with their husband. Almost all the adopters grew seasonal vegetables in their kitchen garden and some of them also grew fruits in their garden. Majority of the adopters manage the insect pest attack and diseases with the cultural/ biological methods. This study suggested that special motivational programmes about kitchen gardening should be organised for the involvement of women; so that more women should get attracted towards kitchen gardening and demonstration plots of kitchen gardening should be maximised to attract the community. The sale centres should be maximised for the easier access of the community at village level.