ISLAMABAD: In order to cut down the consumption of vegetables and fruit contaminated by chemicals in urea and pesticides environmentalists in the capital have begun a campaign to convince residents to grow vegetables and fruit organically at home. Contaminated fruit and vegetables are believed to cause a variety of diseases including cancer.

Environmentalists argue that not only does eating home-grown vegetables and fruit protect health, but it also helps save money. Environmentalist Dr Jawad Chishtie said that at the moment most families in Pakistan spend 60 to 70 per cent of their budget on food.

“Moreover use of vegetables and fruit grown in urea and sprayed pesticide is affecting their health because people are eating nothing but poison. Because of associated health issues another chunk of the budget is spent on medicines and treatment,” he said.

“The only option is to use the organically grown vegetables and fruits. In developed countries governments and people have realised that organically grown food is the only way to ensure health,” he said.

Kitchen gardens used to grow organic products can help protect health, cut down on expenses and combat food insecurity at the national level

Organically grown food is grown in soil that uses natural fertiliser rather than urea, is not sprayed with pesticide or water contaminated with chemicals.

Shahida Kausar Farooq, who is the chief executive officer for Subh-e-Nau-a nongovernment organization working for environment, said that environmental degradation and food security are worsening problems in Pakistan. To meet the challenges of food security and to maximize produce, genetically modified seeds are being favoured in developing countries like Pakistan.

However, the side effects from using this seed and fertilizers are ignored.

“It is not realised in Pakistan that environmental degradation is a formidable threat. We are suffering from many ill planned policies and both the government and public are unaware to the fact how necessary it is to plant indigenous trees across the country,” she said.

Environmentalist and an expert on climate change Dr Farrukh said that use of modified seed, artificial fertilizer and pesticides to get maximum production is nothing but tampering with nature.

Dr. Jawad Chishtie said that environmentalists are promoting kitchen gardening so that organically grown fruit and vegetables are consumed.

“The concept of ‘Victory Garden’ came to Europe after the second World War as people started growing fruit and vegetables at their homes to combat the unavailability of produce in the markets. After sanctions imposed by United States in 1970s Cuba started kitchen gardening to overcome the financial crises,” he said.

“To fight the issue of food insecurity in India, Gandhi said that every person should grow wheat even if it is in a saucepan. Japan also introduced kitchen gardening and most Japanese grow vegetables at their houses,” he said.

“People should try to grow vegetables and fruit at home. If they do not have land they can grow vegetables on the roof or even in flower pots placed on window sills. Care should be taken to not use any fertilizer or pesticide,” he said.

“Moreover in most of parts of the country sewerage water is being used to grow vegetables and fruit which is also nothing but poison. People should use clean water used in the home. Water being used in the kitchen, for washing the floor or rain water can be also used. If every person has an organic garden for their daily needs, the problem of food insecurity would be completely eradicated from our country,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2014