Nutri kitchen garden is the growing of nutrient rich crops in residential houses or in their vicinity to meet the requirements of the family all year round.
Benefits:
- Increases availability of food and nutrient sources
- Source of supplementary income (up to 20%)
- Fresh and Safe (chemical free)
- In urban areas, Nutri kitchen gardening can be promoted in the form of roof top gardening, terrace gardening, vertical gardening and container gardening.
- In rural areas, Nutri kitchen gardens can be promoted in backyard of the houses.
In order to plant a garden you need:
1-A garden plan
2-Available land.
3-Some garden tools.
Small vegetable gardens meet 13-18% of protein, 33-42% of Ca, 56-82% of Fe, 82-125% Vit A and 336-374% Vit. C.
Principles to design Nutri kitchen garden
Land preferably in backyard or the rooftop of house
Quick growing fruit trees in north side to avoid shade effect
Train climbers/vine vegetables on fences.
Grow root crops on ridges which separate the beds.
Use inter- space of slow growing crops with quick growing crops
Include container gardens for pot-herbs
Select crops based on family choice, nutritive value, harvest frequency, market price, safety hazard scale, crop seasons etc.
Ensure all three components i.e. leafy, root and tubers and other vegetables.
Keep space for seedling production.
Follow clean cultivation and 'minimum use of chemicals'
Sanitation need to be perfect if required botanicals to manage disease (Trichoderma, lime) & pests (Neem oil @ 4 ml/liter of water or Neem Seed Kernel Extract @ 3 %, Spinosad 3ml/ 10 lt)
Short duration vegetables for Nutri-kitchen gardens-
Methi, Bathua (Chenopod), Mint, Amaranthus, Coriander, Lettuce spinach , Palak, Turnip, Radish, Vegetable mustard, Peasm Cabbage, Knol Khol, Broccoli
Sutable fruits for nutri kitchen garden.
Mango, Papaya, Aonla, Banana, Acid lime guava, pomegranate, bilimbi, karonda.
Pusa varieties for enhanced nutritional benefits
|
Crop |
Variety |
Distinctive feature |
|
Carrot |
Pusa Rudhira Pusa Asita |
Lycopene Anthocyanin |
|
Palak |
Pusa Jyoti, Pusa Bharti |
Vit A, Vit C., Fe, Ca
|
|
Tomato |
Pusa Uphar, Pusa Hybrid-2, Pusa Rohini |
Vit C, Lycopene
|
|
Vegetable mustard |
Pusa Sag-1 |
Vit C, Carotene |
|
Amaranths |
Pusa Kiran, Pusa Kirti |
Vit A, Vit C, Ca, Fe |
|
Bitter gourd |
Pusa Hybrid-1,2 |
Vit A, Vit C, Fe, Ca |
|
Broad bean |
Pusa Sumit |
Protein |
|
Pumpkin |
Pusa Hybrid-1, Pusa Vikas |
Vit A |
Pusa Vegetable seed kit for nutri kitchen garden.
Source: Division of Agriculture Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110012
