# Nutri-Kitchen Gardening for Nutritional Security

Kumari Sunita, Ajeet Kumar

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Kumari Sunita, Ajeet Kumar. Nutri-Kitchen Gardening for Nutritional Security. 2021, pp.3 (6): 401-402. [hal-05460116](https://hal.science/hal-05460116v1)

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# Nutri-Kitchen Gardening for Nutritional Security

Article ID: 11138

Dr. Kumari Sunita¹, Dr Ajeet Kumar²

¹SMS (Home science), KVK Madhopur, West Champaran 845454 DRPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur).

²Assistant Professor –Cum –Scientist, Department of soil Science, SRI, DRPCAU, Pusa Samastipur 848125.

## Introduction

Good health depends on good nutrition. Good nutrition in turns depends on agriculture to provide the foods-cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, milk and dairy products –for balanced diet that meets the need of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Lack of availability of different nutrients of food to the needy is one of the major causes of malnutrition in India. The intake of protective foods like pulses, vegetables, milk and fruits are very low which leads to nutritional deficiency disorders. According to Hungama (2012) Hunger and Malnutrition 2012 reports-malnutrition in Indian children is continues to be of higher level with 42.3% being underweight, 58.8% stunted and 11% wasted (Indumathi et al.,2012).

Nutritional security should be achieved through much more attention needs to be given not only to quantity, but also to quality of foods especially among low-income groups where adequate intake of micronutrient rich foods such as meat, dairy, legumes, fruits and vegetables are generally unavailable. Nutri- kitchen gardening is food-based strategy of improving nutrition. Sustainable enhancement of household nutritional self-sufficiency through establishment of homestead gardening has led to a decline in the prevalence of anaemia in women and children (Arimond et al.,2011). Improved nutritional status of mothers is associated with better child health and survival.

India has a rich heritage of indigenous fruits and vegetables. They are not only rich in minerals and vitamins but also contribute in a big way in maintaining health, overcoming hunger and malnutrition. In low-income group families the consumption is very low due to poor purchasing power, ignorance and other factors. Cultivation of these crops by gardening in a systemic manner in small piece of land available in household is called “nutritional gardening”. The Nutrition garden ensure access of healthy diet with adequate macro and micronutrients at doorsteps.

The Recommended Dietary Allowances as per the expert committee of ICMR for a person by his daily diet should include at least 300-gram vegetables (green leafy vegetable -50 g, other vegetables 200g, roots and tubers 50 g) and 100 g fresh fruit. Pregnant women should consume 100g leafy vegetables daily.

Home gardens once used to be cornerstone of traditional Indian farming system but over the time they have slowly begun to lose their importance. But now their importance is being recognized once again. Home gardens can be taken on many forms by a few plants in container to large garden plots. Beyond the reward of home grown produce, gardens provide an easy access to fresh and nutritious vegetable in addition to health, environmental and enjoyment advantages for the gardener.

The main purpose of a nutrition garden is to provide the family with fresh vegetables rich in nutrients and energy. A scientifically laid out nutrition garden helps to meet the requirements of fruits and vegetables for a family all the year round. (Sheela et al.,1998)

Nandlal and Mathur (2012) found that kitchen gardening is a low-cost sustainable approach for reducing malnutrition, increasing awareness of vegetable production, increasing working hours, and achieving food nutrition and economic security.

## Plan of a Nutri Garden

The main objective of the layout is the most economic utilisation of space. Cropping intensity should be maximum in nutrition garden. Fences, borders, and interspaces of perennial crops should be utilised for vegetable cultivation. A rectangular garden is preferable than a square garden. The plan will vary in size and shape according to the availability of space, soil, climate and selection of vegetable etc. It is better to have a small well-kept garden than a poorly managed large one.
## Components of a Nutritional Garden

**1. Perennial crops:** Perennial fruits and vegetables are located at one end of the garden so that they will not interfere with the intercultural operations of other crops and will not shade them. Usually grafts or dwarfs of fruit plants are preferred.

**2. Annual plots:** In this plot annual vegetables are cultivated. For continuous availability of the vegetables round the year crop rotation has to be followed in each plot which will reduce the pest and disease incidence also.

**3. Border:** On the borders dwarf and bushy vegetables are grown.

**4. Fences:** Fences can be made of bamboo, barbed wire to protect the crop from stray animals. Live fence can be done of plants like delichos beans, coccinea, winged beans.

**5. Bee hive:** A bee hive is essential to ensure pollination in cross pollinated vegetables especially cucurbits.

**Selection of crops:** Select locally adaptable crops and varieties as far as possible.

**Cultivation Practices:** Nursery raising, land preparation, manure application, sowing and planting, fertilizer application, irrigation, earthing up, weeding etc are major operation in vegetables.

<table><caption>Table 1 Planting Chart for Kitchen Garden:</caption><thead><tr><th>Summer season</th><th>Kharif season</th><th>Rabi season</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Green Leafy Vegetable</strong></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Amaranth</td><td>Chawlai leaves</td><td>Spinach</td></tr><tr><td>Colocasia leaves</td><td>Kulfa</td><td>Radish cabbage</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Rajagira</td><td>Lettuce</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Other vegetables</strong></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chilly</td><td>Tomato</td><td>Peas</td></tr><tr><td>Cow pea</td><td>Pumpkin</td><td>Tinda</td></tr><tr><td>Bottle gourd</td><td>Ridge gourd</td><td>Capsicum</td></tr><tr><td>Brinjal</td><td>Sponge gourd</td><td>Cauliflower</td></tr><tr><td>Lady's finger</td><td>Ash gourd</td><td>Other beans</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Roots and Tubers</strong></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Potato</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Beet root</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Radish</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Turnip</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Carrot</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Summary

Promotion of local plants is an appropriate strategy for increasing vegetable consumption in a particular region. Many local plants are anti oxidative, anti-mutagenicity and anti-inflammatory property. To increase dietary diversity there is an urgent need for inclusion of locally available fruits and vegetables like papaya guava, mango and green leafy vegetables etc in daily diet. Hence every citizen has avital role in converting his surrounding vacant land into alive kitchen garden where location specific seasonal vegetables and fruits are grown.

## References

1. Arimond, M; Hawkes, C;Ruel, M.T.; Sifri,Z.Berti, P.R.,Leroy, J.L.,Low, J.W.Brown, L.R and Frongilo,E.A.(2011)Agriculture interventions and nutrition: Lessons learnt from past and new evidence. In B. Thomption & L. Amoroso, eds. Combating micronutrient deficiencies: Food Based Approaches,pp.41-75.Rome,FAO and Wallingford, UK, CABI.

2. Indumathi, K., Shanmugam, P.S. and Tamilselvan, N. 2012. Nutrition garden as a valuable intervention to fight malnutrition in rural India. Abstracts. Global Conference on Horticulture for food, nutrition and livelihood options, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 28-31 May p.19

3. Nandal, V. and Mathur, I.J. 2012. Backyard nutrition gardening: an effective solution for achieving food and nutrition security of tribal families in Sirohi (Rajasthan). Abstracts. Global Conference on Horticulture for food, nutrition and livelihood options, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 28-31 May p.25.

4. Sheela, K.B., Peter, K.V. and Krishnakumari, K. 1998. Nutrition garden, Directorate of Extension, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, p. 86.