Kitchen gardening and food security.

THE State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) warning of a potential food crisis due to rising population and global warming, combined with the country's agri-cultural stagnation and reliance on wheat imports, highlights the urgent need for a sustainable solution.

Kitchen gardening offers a viable path forward, tapping into the existing potential of homegrown produce to supplement household diets and reducing reliance on store-bought produce. By growing fresh, healthy produce at home, households can reduce their grocery bills, have more control over the quality and variety of their food, and promote healthy eating habits.

Furthermore, gardening has been shown to have mental health benefits, reducing stress and improving mood. The Agriculture Extension Depart-ment's promotion of kitchen gardening in the community is a welcome initiative, offering subsidised seeds, guidance and training programmes to households, schools, colleges, universities and vocational training centres.

The community should support this initiative to contribute to a more sustainable and self-sufficient future. The district administration, in collabo-ration with government departments, NGOs, and educational institutions, can organise awareness campaigns using various media platforms to encourage people to start their own gardens.

To extend the horizon of kitchen gardening, incentives, such as free seeds, soil and other supplies can be offered to encourage people to start their own...

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