Surendra Pandram and Gyansa Bharti
A series of meetings were conducted with farmers and schoolteachers across Patalkot’s 12 villages, with regards to the establishment of kitchen gardens where a variety of desi/local vegetables would be cultivated. Subsequently seeds of local vegetable species and labour expenses were provided for the setting up of Kitchen Gardens in the lands of 26 farmers and in 4 schools – Kondia Government Primary School, Sara Government Primary School, Chimtipur Government Middle School and Chimtipur Government Primary School.
The Kitchen Gardens comprised of circular plots divided into 15 to 16 segments where various desi vegetable and leafy vegetable seeds were sown and these included Bhatta (brinjal), Bhejra, Mircha (Chili), Rjgura bhaji, Math bhaji, Dhania (coriander), Palak (spinach), Methi, mulli (Radish), Gilki, Totka, Lauki (Bottle gourd), Mewa, Parmal, Bhindi (Okra), etc.
These kitchen gardens are aimed at making available a rich variety of nutritious local vegetables to supplement the diets of farmers’ families and Mid Day Meal of school children.
