Assessment of Kitchen Garden Demonstrations for Enhancing Household Nutritional Security, Vegetable Production and Economic Returns in Semi-Arid Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Kitchen gardens are increasingly recognised as a sustainable household-level intervention for improving nutritional security, vegetable availability and economic well-being among rural families. The present study assessed the impact of kitchen garden demonstrations conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Sikar-II, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Rajasthan, during 2022–2025 in the semi-arid region of Sikar district. A total of 450 demonstrations were established across selected villages in the Srimadhopur, Khandela and Reengus blocks. Demonstrations included improved vegetable crops such as okra, brinjal, tomato, spinach, radish, carrot, coriander, fenugreek, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, beetroot, cowpea and cole crops. To evaluate the intervention, 64 beneficiary households were randomly selected for impact assessment. Data were collected through baseline and post-intervention surveys and analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed substantial improvements in vegetable production, nutritional security and household economics. The average vegetable yield under demonstration plots was 199.10 kg per household compared with 97.27 kg under existing farmer practices, representing a mean increase of 100.45%. Vegetable availability and green leafy vegetable consumption scores increased significantly following the intervention, while monthly expenditure on vegetables decreased considerably. The average annual household saving was ₹3,936.00, and the Nutritional Security Index reached 66.12%. Demonstration plots generated higher net returns (₹6,590.30) and benefit–cost ratio (5.76) than farmers’ practices. Women managed most of the kitchen gardens, indicating their active role in household food production. The study demonstrates that kitchen garden demonstrations can effectively enhance nutritional security, economic savings and sustainable vegetable production among rural households in semi-arid regions.