The district horticulture department in Jalpaiguri has taken up a project to help women workers of closed and sick tea estates create kitchen gardens.

Officials are hoping that the women earn by selling vegetables and other agricultural produce and also cook what they grow to ensure better nourishment for their families.

“We have taken up a pilot project in four sick tea estates and around 200 women workers have been included in the initiative. They have been given seeds of different vegetables so that they cultivate them in vacant land adjacent to their quarters,” said Khurshid Alam, an assistant director of the department in the district.

For the project, the department has chosen Kathalguri, Chamurchi, Surendranagar and Redbank of the western Dooars, which are located in Banarhat block of Jalpaiguri district.

Over the past few days, officers and experts of the department have visited the gardens, met the women and made them aware of the benefits of vegetable cultivation.

“Seeds of bitter gourd, cucumber, pumpkin, ridge gourd, corn and lady’s finger have been provided to them. In sick tea estates, families often face financial constraints in buying adequate vegetables, and often can’t have a healthy diet. So now, women can harvest the vegetables and cook them for their families too. If they are left with any surplus, they can sell those in local markets and make some earnings,” said a source in the department.

As a part of the initiative, it has been also planned to provide saplings of black pepper to workers who have coconut or betel nut trees in their quarters or adjoining areas.

“Black pepper is a climber and can be cultivated with coconut and betel nut. It has steady demand and fetches a good price in the market,” Alam added.

He said that once these women workers start harvesting vegetables, the department has plans of giving them saplings of different fruit plants too.

Along with the department, self-help women’s groups will monitor cultivation, harvesting and help women sell their produce, said sources.

The women seemed happy with the initiative.

“Instead of going out and trying for a job, growing vegetables ensures we can earn by staying in the garden,” said Gita Oraon, a worker of Chamurchi.