International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No. 24, 219-228
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The model has been tested at 2000 farm families in 20 districts of the Punjab state to judge the response regarding
the model. The sizes of nutrition garden of framer families were measured which concluded that 53.2 percent
families i.e. 1064 families grow vegetables in more than 40 square meter area, which is followed by 29.3 percent
that grow in 21-40 sq. meter area (585 families), third are the families which grow vegetables in between 11-20
sq. meter area consists of 11.6 percent i.e. 262 families. Only 4.4 percent (89 families) grow vegetables below 10
sq. meter area (Table 5). Due to its affordable plot size and more number of crops produce per unit area, the
model was widely popular not only in rural but also with the urban and peri-urban households. The survey
conducted in 50 nutrition gardens spread all over the state also showed that this model is sufficient for a small
family of four members (Table 6). It was found that only 5.6 hours per week are sufficient to maintain nutrition
garden on an area of 6 ×6 square meters. Hoogerbrugge and Fresco (1993) also reported that total working time
is spent on home garden activities are less than one hour per day or 4.5 hours per week.
Table 5 Size of kitchen garden holdings*
Sr.No.
Districts
Size (Sq. meters)
1-10 Sq mts
11-20 Sq mts
21-40 Sq mts
>40
1
Mohali
9
19
22
50
2
Fatehgarh Sahib
5
16
26
53
3
Patiala
8
14
24
54
4
Ludhiana
6
16
30
48
5
Bathinda
Nil
4
41
55
6
Barnala
Nil
8
45
47
7
Sangrur
Nil
6
48
46
8
Mansa
Nil
5
49
46
9
Faridkot
Nil
3
28
69
10
Ferozpur
Nil
6
29
65
11
Moga
Nil
7
39
54
12
Mukatsar
Nil
4
33
63
13
Gurdaspur
6
16
30
48
14
Amritsar
5
17
40
38
15
Tarn Taran
4
19
41
36
16
Ropar
8
21
36
35
17
Jallandhar
9
23
27
68
18
Hoshiarpur
5
11
24
60
19
Kapurthala
10
22
26
68
20
Nawanshehar
14
25
20
61
Average
4.4
13.1
29.3
53.2
Total
89
262
585
1064
Note: Annual progress report 2011-12, RGRC, PAU, Ludhiana
Table 6 Survey on acceptability of vegetables in home garden
Observations
Frequency
Household having teenaged children
72 %
Recommended model adequate to meet family requirements
62 %
Time spent (hours/week) by family members in nutrition garden
5.6
Vegetables harvested (kg/week)
4.8
Surplus vegetables shared with friends/neighbourers
28 %
Note: Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Science
3 Materials and Methods
A vegetable nutrition garden model has been designed for an area of 6 x 6 square meters to meet the daily
vegetable requirement of a family of 4 members (2 adults and 2 children). Thirteen year round cropping
