The Punjab government has started distributing vegetable seed kits to households across the province to encourage kitchen gardening in Punjab and improve access to fresh, homegrown produce.
Officials from the Agriculture Extension Department said the initiative provides certified seeds for eight summer vegetables at affordable prices, allowing residents to grow vegetables in pots, crates, plastic bags, open spaces or rooftop gardens.
According to Shahid Ashraf, in-charge of the Kitchen Gardening Scheme at the Punjab Agriculture Department, the seed kits are currently being distributed through the department’s network in several districts.
“These summer vegetable seed kits are available throughout the province and can help families produce fresh vegetables at low cost without pesticides,” he said.
Seed kits include eight seasonal vegetables
Each kitchen gardening kit contains seeds for at least eight seasonal vegetables suitable for home cultivation.
The summer seed packs include okra, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, cucumber, tomato, tinda and chilies, among other vegetables.
Officials say the initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency in food production, improve household nutrition and encourage sustainable food practices among both urban and rural communities.
Available across multiple districts
The vegetable seed kits are available at district offices of the Agriculture Extension Department in Attock, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Chakwal, Chiniot, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhang, Jhelum, Kasur, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Sargodha and Vehari, as well as the department’s head office in Lahore.
Officials say the initiative has received encouraging public response, with many households adopting kitchen gardening to grow vegetables at home.
Ashfaq Hussain Mughal, a resident of Manga Mandi near Lahore, said he grows both summer and winter vegetables on his rooftop and finds the activity both productive and rewarding.
Research institute supports the program
The Vegetable Research Institute (VRI) in Faisalabad is also supporting the initiative by developing and distributing seed kits.
Dr. Ghazanfar Hammad, principal scientist at VRI, said the institute has produced more than 200,000 seed kits for both summer and winter seasons this year.
Each kit contains seeds for eight vegetables and includes instructional pamphlets explaining kitchen gardening techniques and best practices. The kits are available at a nominal price of Rs200 to cover production costs.
According to VRI officials, vegetables grow best in temperatures between 20°C and 35°C, and current weather conditions in Punjab are suitable for cultivation until the end of March.
The institute also produced 200,000 winter vegetable seed kits in 2025 for free distribution in flood-affected areas with support from the Fertilizer Manufacturers Association of Pakistan.
Officials said the effort aims to help vulnerable communities restore household food supplies and improve nutritional security.
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