Home garden will become the foundation of familys health Dr Garg

Sangrur:- "Vegetable grown in one's own house not only gives freshness, but also strengthens the family's health, nutrition and food security." These views were expressed by Dr. Ashok Kumar Garg, In-charge and Senior Extension Scientist of PAU-Farm Advisory Service Centre, Sangrur of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, while addressing farmers in village Ghanaur Kalan.
During this special extension activity organized under the directions of Director Extension Education of Punjab Agricultural University, 30 demonstrations were established to promote cultivation of winter season vegetables in the home garden. Through these demonstrations, farmers were given practical and scientific information regarding selection of vegetables, appropriate time of sowing, judicious use of fertilizers, irrigation and maintenance of the garden. Along with this, farmers were also made aware about balanced nutrient management in paddy and use of potassium nitrate to reduce chaffiness.
Dr. Garg said that in today's time the importance of home garden has increased even more. By proper use of a small space around the house, many types of fresh vegetables can be easily grown as per the daily needs of the family. He said that through home garden, fresh, clean and nutritious vegetables can be continuously available to the family and the expenditure incurred on buying vegetables from the market can also be reduced. Vegetables can also be cultivated as per domestic needs near tubewells in fields or at other suitable places.
He told that the month of September is a suitable time for sowing many important winter season vegetables. By sowing broccoli, peas, radish, carrot, turnip and various leafy vegetables in time, favourable conditions can be created for good yield. He said that selection of recommended varieties for sowing, appropriate sowing time and use of healthy seed are the main basis for successful cultivation of vegetables. Along with this, by using fertilizers according to soil fertility and irrigating as per water requirement, good production can be achieved with saving of resources. He said that to reduce chaffiness in paddy and to improve grain filling, foliar spray of 1.5 percent potassium nitrate (13:0:45) at booting stage is recommended. For this, 3 kg potassium nitrate can be dissolved in 200 liters of water and sprayed per acre.
Appeal for maximum participation in Kisan Melas
On this occasion, Dr. Garg gave detailed information to the farmers about the Kisan Melas being organized by Punjab Agricultural University during September 2026. He appealed to the farmers to participate in these melas in maximum numbers and get information about new agricultural techniques, improved varieties, agricultural machinery and the latest recommendations of the University. He said that scientific farming and cultivation of vegetables at the household level - both are important steps for family income, nutrition and judicious use of natural resources. Farmers were motivated to give priority to new and scientific techniques in farming by adopting the recommendations of Punjab Agricultural University.
S. Amrik Singh, S. Gurtej Singh, S. Mukhtiar Singh and S. Balwinder Singh of the village gave special cooperation in the successful organization of the demonstrations.