[Feature] Kitchen Gardeningin Qurumbar Valley

Syed Tajdar Hussain

The WWF-Pakistan/Pakistan Wetlands Programme–Northern Alpine Wetlands Complex, site office Gilgit-Baltistan conducted a day long field training session on Kitchen Gardening for the selected community womenfolk/trainees of Qurumbar valley (Badswat village).

The purpose of the activity was (a) to train the womenfolk of Badswat village in Kitchen Gardening through practical demonstration in the field (b) raise awareness among womenfolk regarding sowing of new varieties of seeds while introducing innovative techniques.

Training started at 11:00 am at Badswat village of Qurumbar valley. More then 22 trainees attended the daylong training session vis-à-vis kitchen gardening. The participants were first briefed about the importance of kitchen gardening and procedures to develop a healthy and viable kitchen garden in a small space available along their hoses. All the ways explained for leveling of the land before preparation of vegetable beds, various steps for site selection, land plaguing and wedding of unnecessary grasses from the garden were also discussed in detail. The steps involved in preparation of vegetable beds including beds structure in lengthwise direction to ensure easy flow of water and direct sunlight access on the garden enable healthy vegetables growth because pants needs sunlight and water in time for flourishing well. After leveling of land, wedding is important step of kitchen gardening for high yield fresh produce.

The participants were also briefed in detail about organic kitchen garden and its impacts on health of human being as the organic produces covered all the necessities required for consumers. The use of livestock manure can also improves the soil fertility with increase yield production. On the other, use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticide and herbicides on one hand base for bed effect on the health of hebevourse on the other decrease the quality of soil ultimately lead to decrease yield. Cultivation and sowing of one crop again and again in a same field can also cause ill effect on land soil texture, due to which both the quality and quantity of yield also affected. Introduction of rotational crop system would enhance the production and maintain soil quality through recover the necessary minerals in the soil.

The training participants were briefed concisely all the necessities to develop healthy and viable kitchen garden with in a limited meadow landscape though easy and fascinating work. After briefing session the trainees practically demonstrate vegetable gardening in selected sites through sowing of a variety of vegetable seeds. More then 12 different beds were successfully grown while sharing tips for growing aromatic plants surrounding to increase esthetic value of vegetable garden.

The community womenfolk showed their high willingness in such type of productive work in their respective village and demanded for more training in kitchen gardening in future. Such types of training will also build the capacities of local women in growing vegetables in scientific manners and make sure the constant supply of fresh produce for the community of the village.

The activity ended with appreciation form trainees and special anticipation and thanks from organizers of the training.