New Stories From 'Urban Agriculture Notes'
Random header image... Refresh for more!

India: Urban families growing vegetables on rooftops

As Covid-19 cases started increasing, the thought of growing vegetables and fulfilling our daily needs came during the lockdown.

Kumar Rajesh
Times of India
Jul 30, 2020

Excerpt:

One 46-year old Rajesh Tiwari, a postgraduate in political science from Tilkamanjhi Bhagalpu University (TMBU), who used to grow ornamental flowers and seasonal flowers on his rooftop garden since 1988, now grows green vegetables like bitter gourd (karela), tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, okra (bhindi), ridged gourd, brinjals, french beans, pumpkins etc on the 2000 square feet rooftop.

As Covid-19 cases started increasing, the thought of growing vegetables and fulfilling our daily needs came during the lockdown. This rooftop farming also plays a significant role in environment management and enhances the deteriorating quality of air while providing organic and fertilizer-free produce.,” said Rajesh, who works in a private company.

He added: “During the past four-five months, we have grown all kinds of fresh organic vegetables on our rooftop garden. My family also helps in this passion and our daily needs of fresh vegetables are fulfilled from our own resources. Only potatoes and onions that have a long shelf-life are bought from the market once in a month.”

Rajesh said that at times his close relatives also collect vegetables grown on his rooftop. “We have encouraged our relatives and close acquaintances also to use rooftops and balconies to grow vegetables and become self-reliant. PM Narendra Modi’s appeal to the nation to become ‘atmanirbhar’ added energy to my passion,” Rajesh added.

Read the complete article here.