Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol 27, Oct Suppl. Issue, 2021; Page No.(284-290)

GENDER AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KITCHEN GARDENS: A CASE STUDY OF SIKKIM

Aranya Jha, Sangeeta Jha and Ajeya Jha

Abstract

Kitchen gardens is a worldwide phenomenon and probably is an age-old phenomenon. They play a vital role in human lives but their importance remains undervalued. Utilitarian value of kitchen gardens is relatively better recognized and well documented. Its psycho-emotional and cultural importance has, however, been less studied. Sikkim is located in the laps of Himalayas. It is a tiny Indian Himalayan state having an area approximately 7100 square kilometers. It has an immense bio-cultural diversity. Kitchen gardens have substantial cultural importance. Is this true for the State of Sikkim? Do this importance have any gender-based variations? These two questions have been investigated in this study. Kitchen gardens have a substantial cultural value for the rural people of this state. Kitchen gardens provide sacred space to undertake cultural and spiritual traditions; provide resources such as leaves, flowers, fruits and herbs for carrying out rituals; provide ingredients for cooking food having cultural meaning as also provide gift items. Study also finds significant gender differences exist with women valuing the kitchen gardens for their cultural importance much higher than man