KITCHEN GARDENING: A PROMISING APPROACH TOWARDS IMPROVING NUTRITIONAL SECURITY IN RURAL HOUSEHOLDS

V. SINGH¹*, K.S. YADAV², A.K. TRIPATHI^3
1ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sagar, 470002, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Adhartal, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
²ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sagar, 470002, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Adhartal, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
³ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sagar, 470002, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Adhartal, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
* Corresponding Author : ksyadav20@rediffmail.com

Received : 14-05-2018     Accepted : 26-05-2018     Published : 30-05-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 5       Pages : 1216 - 1219
Int J Microbiol Res 10.5 (2018):1216-1219
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.9735/0975-5276.10.5.1216-1219

Keywords : Kitchen garden, vegetables, per capita availability, RDA
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author thankful to ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bhopal Road, Sagar, 470002, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Adhartal, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Despite of sufficient food grain production at national level, malnutrition is still a public health concern in our country. India is also one of the leading nations in vegetable production but the problem of malnutrition especially the micronutrient deficiencies are very common among the rural households. The underlying cause may be the unawareness, illiteracy, inadequate availability of vegetables and fruits and low purchasing power of the households. As per Recommended Dietary Allowances, daily intake of vegetables should be 300 gm/person including roots and tubers, green leafy and other vegetables. Keeping into consideration the high prevalence of malnutrition especially micronutrient deficiencies and inadequate availability of vegetables, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sagar has carried out 56 demonstrations using 1.40 ha area from the year 2007 to 2016 on nutritional kitchen gardening. Prior to this, a total of eight training programmes were conducted including 164 participants on importance and establishment of nutrition kitchen garden in the same villages. The major objective was to improve the availability of vegetables and nutrient intake at household level and to improve the knowledge of rural women regarding various technological aspects of kitchen gardening and its importance. For the conduction of demonstrations, families of 4-6 members were selected purposively. An area of 250m2 was taken to establish kitchen garden for each family. A questionnaire was used to assess the pre and post training knowledge of participants regarding various aspects of kitchen gardening. The result of the study showed an improvement in availability of vegetables for consumption at both household and individual level. The average per capita availability of vegetables increased from 172 to 278 gm/day. The knowledge level of beneficiaries has also been improved through training programmes.

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