ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) has set up more than 300 clubs in the twin cities under a kitchen and rooftop gardening programme introduced to promote organic agriculture.

Members of the clubs include college students, military officials and the public, for whom the programme has the potential to address food and health in urban and peri-urban areas.

Official sources said on Sunday that the government has taken steps to promote organic farming in the country, including the production of organic seasonal vegetables in the fields at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) to train stakeholders.

They said personnel from 600 NGOs have been facilitated to promote organic farming and kitchen gardening in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir.

Off-season squash has also been produced in the tunnels at NARC for demonstration and training purposes.

Sources said Parc has also established a cell on organic architecture and nominated a focal person in this regard.

When contacted, agriculture expert Dr Sher Baloch said organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than use of inputs with adverse affects.

Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.

In response to public demand, Parc has initiated a programme to help citizens of Rawalpindi and Islamabad grow fresh organic vegetables at home that are free of pesticides.

Citizens can grow vegetables in their front or backyards, on rooftops and in pots. Under the programme, nurseries of various seasonal, off-season and early sowing vegetables are grown at the NARC farm area for distribution to club members and other interested groups or individuals.

Vegetable plants and seedlings are provided to growers at nominal rates, and in the case of some vegetables one or two plants are sufficient to meet a household’s seasonal requirement.

Obvious advantages associated with household gardening include pesticide-free produce and availability at one’s doorstep, in additional the high nutritional value of herbs and vegetables.

Research officers and field staff are also available with the programme to train and provide services at households.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2019