The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has launched ‘Panchakam’, an innovative home garden model designed to help households grow safe, nutritious vegetables in limited spaces such as terraces, balconies and small kitchen gardens
The initiative encourages every family to cultivate five carefully selected crops —drumstick, papaya, chilli, curry leaf and cowpea — in at least five pots or a small patch of land to ensure a year-round supply of nutrient-rich vegetables for household consumption
Launching the initiative, KAU Vice-Chancellor T. Sajitha Rani said Panchakam was a practical step towards promoting sustainable, self-reliant kitchen gardens across Kerala. The model, she said, would enable families to produce pesticide-free vegetables while improving household nutritional security
The concept has been developed by T. Pradeepkumar, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Vegetable Science at KAU. According to the university, while an adult requires about 300 g of vegetables a day, the average daily consumption in Kerala is only 100–120 g. The initiative seeks to bridge this nutritional gap through simple, space-efficient home cultivation
The five crops were chosen for their high nutritional value as well as their adaptability to Kerala’s agro-climatic conditions. Drumstick leaves are rich in iron, iodine and vitamins A and C, while tender papaya provides vitamin C and dietary fibre. Chilli is aon, antioxidants and vitamins, and cowpea supplies plant-based protein
The university said the model is particularly suitable for urban households and homes with limited open space, requiring only about half a cent of land or five containers on a terrace or balcony to establish a productive kitchen garden
This initiative, the university said, aligns with its broader efforts to strengthen food and nutritional security through practical, low-cost interventions that can be easily adopted by families across the State
