World Kitchen Garden Day Celebrated in Bhubaneswar with a Call for Organic, Sustainable Farming

Bhubaneswar: The World Kitchen Garden Day was celebrated with enthusiasm on Sunday at the State Quality Control Laboratory, organized by the Kitchen Gardeners’ Association (KGA). The event underscored the importance of organic and natural farming, the conservation of indigenous seeds, and the growing demand for chemical-free, nutritious food.

The celebration brought together eminent personalities, including Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Member of the National Human Rights Commission; Padmashree Prof. Ashok Kumar Mohapatra; Padmashree Dr. Sabarmatee; and Shubhranshu Mishra, Additional Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Odisha. All the speakers stressed the urgent need to adopt sustainable agricultural practices in the face of rising health and environmental challenges.

Prof. Mohapatra highlighted how the excessive consumption of salt, spices, oil, and sugar in Odisha’s diet is fueling lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and heart ailments. He cautioned that unless corrective steps are taken, the younger generation may face a severe health crisis in the future.

Dr. Sabarmatee spoke about the relevance of organic farming in addressing modern agricultural concerns. She urged the youth to engage in indigenous seed preservation, emphasizing that safeguarding traditional seeds is vital for food sovereignty and ecological balance.

Justice Sarangi linked agriculture with human rights, noting that access to safe, nutritious food should be recognized as a fundamental right. Meanwhile, Mishra called for greater government support to popularize natural farming initiatives and take them closer to the public.

As part of the occasion, two significant publications were released: the Natural Farming Bulletin by KGA and the book “Krushi Sahityare Adipurusha Gangadhar”, co-authored by Chaudhury Barada Prasanna Das and Ekadashi Nandi, which explores traditional agriculture and natural farming practices.

The day also featured special sessions on indigenous seed preservation and beekeeping, alongside experience-sharing by urban farmers. Exhibitions of locally produced items—including millets, saplings, fruits, honey, compost, and bio-fertilizers—added practical value to the event.

The programme was presided over by Archana Nayak and coordinated by a dedicated team comprising Maheswar Khillar, Panchanan Kanungo, Ashok Das, Bhuban Mohan Pattnaik, Dushyant Das, and Ekadashi Nandi.

Organizers said the celebration aimed to inspire more citizens to embrace kitchen gardening and natural farming as a path toward healthier living and ecological resilience.