KAU launches ‘Panchakam’ model to boost household nutrition through home gardens
Kerala Agricultural University has introduced the 'Panchakam' model to encourage urban households to grow five specific nutrient-rich crops in small spaces. The initiative aims to improve food security and bridge the nutritional gap in the state.
Why it matters
Promoting home-based agriculture helps address nutritional deficiencies and reduces reliance on market-bought produce.
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.
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