ISLAMABAD, Mar 04 (APP):The Punjab government is encouraging kitchen gardening by providing certified vegetable seeds to the citizens at affordable rates. These seeds can be cultivated in pots, plastic bags, crates, boxes, open spaces, or on rooftops.
Currently, the government is distributing seed kits for eight summer vegetables through the Agriculture Extension Department’s network across various districts of the province.
“Summer vegetable seed kits are available for sale throughout the province. These vegetables can be grown successfully to obtain inexpensive and pesticide-free produce,” Shahid Ashraf, In-Charge of the Kitchen Gardening Scheme at the Punjab Agriculture Department, told Wealth Pakistan.
The initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency, improve household nutrition, and encourage sustainable food practices by making fresh, homegrown produce accessible to both urban and rural families.
Each kitchen gardening kit contains seeds for at least eight seasonal vegetables. The summer packs currently include okra, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, cucumber, tomato, tinda, and chilies.
Shahid Ashraf said the public response to kitchen gardening has been very encouraging, with many households successfully growing vegetables at home.
Vegetable seed kits are available at district offices of the Agriculture Extension Department in Attock, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Chakwal, Chiniot, D.G. Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhang, Jhelum, Kasur, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Sargodha, and Vehari, in addition to the department’s head office in Lahore.
A large number of Lahoreites have adopted kitchen gardening not only to avoid purchasing expensive vegetables from the market but also as a productive pastime.
“I have been growing various summer and winter vegetables on the rooftop of my home. When the seeds sprout and the plants start bearing vegetables, it gives me immense pleasure,” said Ashfaq Hussain Mughal, a resident of Manga Mandi on the outskirts of Lahore. He added that cultivating vegetables at home is a rewarding way to spend time productively.
The Vegetable Research Institute (VRI), Faisalabad, has also been playing a pivotal role in promoting kitchen gardening across Punjab, to enhance household nutrition and reduce food expenses.
“The institute has developed and distributed more than 200,000 kitchen gardening seed kits for both summer and winter seasons this year,” said Dr Ghazanfar Hammad, Principal Scientist at VRI.
He explained that each kit contains seeds for eight seasonal vegetables—sufficient for a five-marla household—along with informative pamphlets outlining kitchen gardening guidelines and best practices.
The kits are available at a nominal price of Rs 200 per pack, covering only production costs, making them affordable for low- and middle-income families.
Dr Hammad said optimal vegetable growth requires temperatures between 20°C and 35°C, adding that the current weather conditions in Punjab are favorable for cultivation till March 31.
In addition to the ongoing distribution, VRI also produced 200,000 winter vegetable seed kits in 2025 for free distribution in flood-affected areas, with sponsorship from the Fertilizer Manufacturers Association of Pakistan.
“This initiative aims to support vulnerable communities in restoring household food supplies and improving nutritional security,” he said.