What is the model of Poshan Vatika?

Poshan Vatika: In today’s time, due to Corona epidemic, awareness has increased among people about immunity power. Weak immunity reduces the body’s ability to fight against many diseases including corona. At the same time, the problem of malnutrition is also seen due to lack of essential nutrients in the body. The concept of Nutrition Garden can prove to be effective in getting rid of both these problems. What is Nutrition Garden, how you can prepare Nutrition Garden at your home, the head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Vegetable scientist Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh had a special conversation with Kisan Of India.

There is no magic formula for boosting immunity power and nutrients. By regularly consuming fruits and vegetables rich in healthy and medicinal properties, the body gets all the essential nutrients. These nutrients are helpful in increasing the immunity power of the body.

200 to 250 square meter area required for Nutrition Garden 

Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh, Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Vegetable Scientist in East Champaran, Bihar, explains that people must first understand the importance of Poshan Vatika i.e. Nutrition Garden. He told that according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a person should consume 300 grams of vegetables per day. There should be 115 grams of green leafy vegetables, 115 grams of tuber vegetables and 70 grams of other vegetables.

250 square meters of land is enough for an average family

Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh said that 200 to 250 square meters of land is enough for an average family of five members to meet the requirement of these vegetables for the whole year. By making small beds in it, nutritious vegetables can be grown as per the requirement. Crop rotation is adopted according to the season and climate for the cultivation of vegetables in Poshan Vatika. Agricultural scientist Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh further says that many people living in big cities often complain that how can they grow healthy fruits and vegetables themselves. If there is no land for farming, such people can easily prepare a nutrition garden on their roof.

According to Dr. Abhishek, apart from vegetables as well as fruit trees like papaya, lemon, pomegranate and guava, medicinal plants like Tulsi, Aloe vera, Giloy can also be planted in the nutrition garden. The vegetables produced from Poshan Vatika are tasty, fresh and free from pests and diseases. For round the year availability of vegetable, early, mid and late varieties should be grown. Fruit trees like lemon, guava, banana and pomegranate should be planted on one side, so that there is no problem in plowing the beds. Vegetables that require a lot of water, such as spinach and amaranth, should be planted near gutters. Always plant vegetables in alternate places so that along with more production, the outbreak of pests and diseases can be reduced.

Location selection for Nutrition Garden 

According to agricultural scientist Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh, choose a place for the nutrition garden where there is sufficient amount of sunlight. Keep in mind that the shadow of the big tree should not affect the yield of vegetables. For this, one or two compost pits should be made in a shady or less important place. If there is enough space, papaya, lemon, grapes, banana etc. can be planted in the north direction.

According to Dr. Abhishek, the crop rotation of vegetables in the Poshan Vatika should be kept as follows:

• Cabbage, lettuce and French beans should be planted in the first bed of the nutrition garden as co-crops during the months of November to March and March to October.
• Cabbage and cowpea should be sown in the bed number 2 of the Nutrition Garden from September to February and cowpea crop should be sown from March to August.
• Cauliflower, mid-season varieties of radish, onion should be sown in beds number 3 from July to November, November to December and December to June.
• Potato, cowpea, early cauliflower crops should be planted in bed number 4 from November to March, March to June and July to October.
• In the fifth bed, spinach should be planted with brinjal in the month of July to March and amaranth should be planted with okra in the month of March to June.
• In bed number 6, spinach should be planted with round brinjal in August to March and chaulai saag should be planted with okra in March to August.
• In the seventh bed, capsicum along with chilli should be sown in September to March and okra in June to August.

Sowing of tuber vegetables on ridges 

Dr. Abhishek told that the time of sowing, vegetable crops can change according to the climate. Radish after turnip on bed number 1 to 3, Arabi/Banda/Gaderi after beetroot in bed number 4, Arabi/Banda/Gaderi after carrot on bed number 5 to 6 and Arabi/Banda/Gaderi after radish in bed number 7. Banda/Gaderi should be planted.

Plant fruits like this in nutrition garden 

One drumstick plant in a row, five banana plants in a row and five papaya plants in a row, two gooseberry plants in a row, one curry leaf plant in a row and two asparagus plants in a small row. Should be put in

Plant protection and other essential tips for a nutrition garden 

Dr. Abhishek says that seeds and plants should be purchased from trusted institutions only. Cow dung manure should be used mostly. Kitchen or household waste water should be used for irrigation.

Use organic insecticides to protect the crop from pests and diseases. Promote the use of insecticides containing neem. Use Sticky Trap. No bed of the nutrition garden should be kept empty. Tomato, peas, beans, parwal etc. should be supported. These crops occupy minimum space. Vine/laced vegetables like bottle gourd, ridge gourd, banana, tinda etc. should be grown with the help of fences. Early maturing vegetables should be planted in rows between late maturing vegetables.

Benefits of Nutrition Garden 

Dr. Abhishek says that Poshan Vatika is the best way to increase immunity power. It is also important to fulfill the nutrient requirement of your body. This ensures availability of fresh, tasty and chemical free vegetables at all times. The wasted water and garbage of the house gets put to good use. In this way, there is also a good saving. Good habits develop in children and they become labourers. Seeing the Nutrition Garden gives satisfaction and pleasure to the eyes and free time is put to good use.