PROFITABILITY OF KITCHEN GARDENING IN SELECTED SITES OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR:

HOME BASED VEGETABLES FARMING

Abstract

Kitchen Gardening refers to the home based vegetable farming and it is significantly a prof-itable venture for engaged household (both for men and women). The study recorded that an individual house hold involved in kitchen gardening produced 70 percent vegetables required for its 5-7 members family consumption from an area of 05 Marla plot during Rabi and Kahrif season of the year. Additionally the families practicing Kitchen gardening shared vegetables with relatives and immediate neighbors as a free gift. The families in all sites noted appropriate savings amounting to Pakistani Rupees. 7200, 9000 and 10200 as profit margins per less than three Marla, 3 Marla and Five Marla plots respectively in all three sites. The involved families were found in access to quality, nutritious foods and useful utilization of their leisure time. Female vegetables gardeners of all the three sites were found quite satisfied, although they were facing problems in time allocation for vegetable sowing and management. Few families noted lack of quality vegetable seeds, high prices of inputs, adulteration in inputs, heavy infestation of insects’ pests on summer vegetables crops, and lack of necessary guidance and trainings in high value vegetable farming. Home based value addition of vegetables was also a problem when production was in excess to their kitchen use. In light of the research study necessary policy recommendations have been made for future consideration.