DELHI CITIZENS INTEREST ZOOM IN ORGANIC FARMING AT HOME

The growing awareness about health and wellness ,eating natural and organic food is becoming essential part of our lifestyle. The ‘Organic ‘ has become a buzzword among Delhiites  in last couple of years.

“Despite urban space constraints cultivating a garden for pesticide-free vegetables and fruit may seem like a far-fetched idea. But now  growing and owning an organic kitchen garden is actually utterly becoming achievable and house wives are growing organic vegetables and herbs in back yard, balconies and even bath tubs” said Ms Bella Gupta, Secretary, All India Kitchen Garden Association,(AIKGA)  an all India apex body  having branches all over India .

A Two day Fruit vegetable and flower show ‘Spring festival’ organised by AIKGA opened here today with theme ‘Kitchen Garden’.

“The process of growing organic vegetables and herbs is  cost-effective, and low-maintenance. The only requirements are a lot of patience and perseverance. You do not need much space , one can use windowsill to grow some vegetables. One of the biggest requirements to grow fruits and veggies is sunlight, something the city is amply blessed with.” Said Ms Gupta.

“Recycle and reuse at the outset, you don’t need to invest in fancy or earthen pots. You can even make use of plastic bottles, buckets and bathtubs to grow vegetables. Take a medium sized bathtub; fill it with soil and home compost to grow cabbages, cauliflowers, capsicums, radish and onions. Start with what you have. There’s no need to buy earthworms or any other stuff. Simply convert your kitchen waste into resource,” said Ms Gupta.

“One can source the seeds for as cheap as Rs 10 from any of the nurseries in the city, Always go for open pollinated seeds, not hybrid. You can start by growing basic vegetables like basil (tulsi), mint leaves (pudina), kadi pata, chillies, lemon grass and different varieties of spinach. “They are one of the simplest to grow. Since they don’t require too much sunlight the plant can be kept in a living room or placed near the window, Once you are well-versed with simple plants, graduate to growing cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum, radish, onions and tomatoes.” She added.

“The demand for organic is huge especially in the younger generation, which means people are taking ownership of what they eat and where their produce comes from and that’s very important. It’s the 25-40 age group that’s driving the change,” Ms Gupta Said.

“Consumer demand for locally produced, natural foods and organic products is no longer just a trend. There is a paradigm shift towards produce that boosts health and wellness”. She added.