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Case Study – SHG based Livelihood initiative through Kitchen Gardening

Home Portfolio Case Study – SHG based Livelihood initiative through Kitchen Gardening

Place:- Area- Kalol, Gujarat

The district, Panchamhal in Gujarat has sub- tropical climate. Panchmahal district is rich in respect of forest resources. The district has forest area of 1213.53 sq. km. Kalol has 35.95 sq. km area of forest.

The people mostly depend on the rainwater for cultivation since irrigation is limited. Since the agriculture which depends on rains water gets drought in alternate year and thus the crop suffers to a great extent and people migrate in search of work.

Navrachna Trust initiated work at Kalol and after conducting needs assessment survey, Kitchen gardening was selected as one of the intervention activity looking to the proper usage of the unused land and also looking to the health status of the people in the area. It was discussed with the VDC committee for the approval as well.

Most of the people are into agriculture and livestock. Hence, women of the SHG wanted IG activities which are related to their work and in which they have knowledge about it.  During the meeting with the staff members of Navrachna Trust, they were informed and guided about the kitchen garden set up looking to their need and easy accessibility. Kitchen Garden is highly profitable and requires less capital and investment.

In present time cultivating and producing food with proper nutrients is difficult because of the amount of pesticides and medicines used by the farmers. This is a big concern for us since it affects our health negatively. Hence the intervention Kitchen Gardening seemed to be useful and productive as well.

For Kitchen Gardening, it does not require massive requirement. Small plot of unused land can also be used and less amount of  time is required every day for taking care of the garden. Water can also be reused from the Kitchen which proves effective. As a result providing nutritious food to them.

The organization worked in 12 villages of Kalol.

  • Total Number of Kitchen Garden- 235
  • Total Members- 40
  • 20 SHG member has kitchen Garden and groups of 2 to 3 have been formed to look after the garden.
Name of Village Number of Kitchen Garden Production in 1 week per member (in kg) Total Production per week Total Production in 1 month
Khandewal 22 2 44 176
Bedhiya 20 2 40 160
Karada 20 2 40 160
Nesda 20 2 40 160
Sansoli 20 2 40 160
Zakhripura 15 2 30 120
Bhadroli 20 2 40 160
Shamaldevi 20 2 40 160
Kharsaliya 25 2 50 200
Khadki 14 2 28 112
Ghusar 19 2 38 152
Paruna 20 2 40 160
Total 235 24 470 1880

The main objective of these kitchen gardens is to provide good nutritional vegetables to the family members because in the present scenario it is hard to attain such vegetables. Preparing such kitchen gardens at each villages makes availability of all types of vegetables in the village. This garden can be developed in waste land or any unused land nearby home. Beneficiary can use waste water of kitchen which can be sprinkled to attain these vegetables.

Vegetables which are attained from the kitchen garden has a better effect on improving the health because presently people buy their food from market which has pesticides sprinkled on it which effect the health of people. With the help of kitchen gardens, green vegetables are grown at the door steps which was difficult during the past. This has helped women in saving a good amount of money as they had to buy vegetables from market previously. The women saved around 50 rupees per day which helped in increase of their savings. At the same time, they can even sell the vegetable produce at the market as well and this will act as an additional source of income for the family.

Sr. No. Name of Village Numbers of Kitchen Garden Savings per week per member Total Savings per week Total Savings in 1 Month
1 Khandewal 22 50 1100 4400
2 Bedhiya 20 50 1000 4000
3 Karada 20 50 1000 4000
4 Nesda 20 50 1000 4000
5 Sansoli 20 50 1000 4000
6 Zakhripura 15 50 750 3000
7 Bhadroli 20 50 1000 4000
8 Shamaldevi 20 50 1000 4000
9 Kharsaliya 25 50 1250 1250
10 Khadki 14 50 700 700
11 Ghusar 19 50 950 950
12 Paruna 20 50 1000 1000
Total 235 600 11750 47000
  • Total saving per month = 47000/-
  • If we calculate three-month season Rs. 47000 X 3 months = 141000/-
  • Hence, Total saving of 235 SHG members is 141000/- in three months

There is seen increase in the Micro monthly savings which has led to financial stability. Beneficiaries gets proper nutritional balanced diet that consists of green vegetables like spinach, coriander, carrot, radish and so on which leads to good health. Interest in the organic farming has increased due to variety in food taste.

Mrs. Daxaben Rathore (Sarpanch – Khandewal)

“It is first time in our village that 22 women produce various vegetable in their unused land through organic method. On behalf of those women and village, we are thankful for the approach”
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