Information &Publication Section

Booklet

HEALTH TREASURES IN YOUR BACKYARDS: Green Spots for Small Land Holdings

Published 3 Sept 2026

Urban and peri-urban spaces are shrinking. Not only is cost of land plummetting but it is also being diverted to non-agricultural purposes like building for commercial spots. Land available for residential purposes and kitchen gardens for household food security are also diminishing. However the need to consume safe, healthy and nutritious seasonal cannot be undermined.The Indian sub-continent has a typical diet platter, especially that of Kashmiris. It is predominantly a heavyereal based diet with minimal dietary fibre. The protein intake is still adequate with servings of eggs, meat and poultry every other day with the intake of oil little more than judicious. The valley is lined with nut trees like walnuts and almonds yet they do not feature in our daily diet as a routine. In the changing lifetstyles where most of us are sedentary, a typical meal plate has to change. The bulk of cereal must be replaced with high fibre and healthy fats. The traditional kitchen garden essentially grew bottle gourd, saag, tomatoes, cucumbers and beans. Its about time we turn them into more meaningful segments of urban and peri-urban household food security through smart kitchen gardens to ensure a robust supply of vegetables almost round the year to typically feed a mid-size family.