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Cultivation of Vegetables at Home


Home gardening is the practice of growing vegetables and fruits in small places like balconies and backyards gardens. It promotes self-sufficiency, healthy eating and environmental sustainability. In this regard under the kind patronage of worthy Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zill-I-Huma Nazli, the Department of Botany, GC Women University Faisalabad organized one day seminar and hands-on training activity on ???Cultivation of Vegetables at Home??? on Thursday October 26, 2023. The program formally started with recitation of Holy Quran and Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool (PBUH). The welcome address was delivered by Chief Organizer, Acting Chairperson, Department of Botany, Dr. Abida Kausar, who also gave an overview of the seminar and training activity. She acknowledged the support of Worthy Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zill-I-Huma Nazli, for always being so kind and cooperative in arranging such activities. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zill-I-Huma Nazli, GC Women University Faisalabad extended her heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers and commended Department of Botany for putting together such a knowledgeable seminar and training activity. Honorable guests Prof. Dr. Jalal Arif, (Chairperson, Department of Entomology, UAF), also spokesperson of University of Agriculture, UAF and Project Manager of Home Gardening., Associate Prof. Dr. Muzamil Jahangir, from Institute of Horticultural Sciences, UAF, Associate Prof. Dr. Dildar Khan Gogi, from Department of Entomology, UAF and Ms. Minha Tariq, Assistant Commissioner FBR graced the event. The knowledge sharing session started with the talk of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Jalal Arif, he highlighted the importance of home gardening and gave an overview of the project and amenities provide by his team such as provision of services to grow fruits and vegetables at home in limited areas, protection of crops from attack of various pests and diseases, how to grow pesticide and insecticide free crops and use of bio fertilizers. At the end he paid gratitude to Worthy Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zill-I-Huma Nazli, Acting Chairperson Department of Botany and Coordinator, Science and Technology, Dr. Saima Akram for this facilitation. He also showed interest for collaborating with GCWUF, specially Dept of Botany in future. Dr. Muzamil Jahangir emphasized the importance of home gardening as it ensures an inexpensive, regular and handy supply of organic fresh fruits and vegetables which are basic to nutrition. Additionally, gardening is a great way to get exercise and reduce stress. Dr. Dildar Khan Gogi gave the third talk of the event about pests control and elaborated various easy and cheap techniques like hand picking, bagging of fruits and vegetables, burying of affected plants, light trap, control of fruit flies by using bottle-based traps. At the end of this session seeds of various fruits and vegetables were distributed among the participants to encourage them to establish their home kitchen gardens. Coordinator, Science and Technology, Dr. Saima Akram, appreciated the efforts of the organizing team and concluded the session with a vote of thanks. The technical session was physically attended by more than 100 participants. The resource persons Prof. Dr. Jalal Arif, Dr. Muzamil Jahangir and Dr. Dildar Khan Gogi gave demonstrations to participants on various aspects of home gardening such as preparation of garden beds, soil health assessment, seed sowing, watering, transplanting, thinning and finally watch them grow. Overwhelming response from participants has encouraged the organizing team to arrange similar activities in future.