Self-reliant in year-round vegetable production through kitchen garden in Indo-Gangetic Plains

Abstract

The government of India has long been striving to increase the food and nutritional security of rural and urban households. In this regard, kitchen/homestead gardens of limited available space can play an important role in fullfilling the demand for year-round diversified vegetable requirements. Considering the scope to self-reliant in year-round vegetable production and consumption through kitchen garden model, a field experiment was conducted for consecutive two years (2018-19) at the homestead garden of ICAR - IIFSR Modipuram Meerut. A total of 28 vegetables were selected for year-round vegetable cultivation and were planted in 15 beds varied from 2 to 8 m2. The year-round vegetable patterns under each bed were grown into 3 to 4 cropping seasons. The fifteen cropping patterns were arranged in 62 m2 net areas. The total year-round production of vegetables was 568.7 kg from 62 m2 net areas. Among the different groups of vegetables, 196 kg of root, bulb and tubers vegetables; 160.1 kg leafy and flower vegetables; 184.6 kg of fruit/vegetables and 25.8 kg of leguminous vegetables were obtained from 62 m2 net areas. In our finding, nearly 163 kg vegetable shortage to fullfills the demand of 5 members household. The shortage quantity of vegetables 163 kg can be obtained from increasing 18 m2 net areas in addition to exiting 62 m2. Notably, this model which fullfill the household demands of year-round vegetable requirements in a sustainable way as well as improve the food and nutritional security.