Horticulture based roof top production model 

SITUATION ANALYSIS

The beneficiary Mrs. Bhanumathi is from a farming family and was growing flowers and ornamentals for passion in a small area in pots at balcony and Verandah. Since she had less idea for growing vegetables and other crops in rooftop she was reluctant and thought that the weight of media in pots will affect the building. Once she approached the scientific team of Horticulture on hearing about the implementation of roof top model for establishing in her own house. The area was big and there was much more opportunity to grown different horticulture crops in her terrace. The intervention was then done by ICAR-CIARI team for establishment of roof top production model at her residence at Birdline.

TECHNOLOGY INTERVENTIONS

In the year 2021 ,Horticulture based roof top production model was established in the terrace of Mrs. Bhanumathi in an area of 400 m2. Light weight porous media was suggested in grown bags so that the pressure of excess weight of soil media was reduced. Organic growing of different horticulture crops with vegetables as a major component was suggested in the terrace with crop calendar of different horticulture crops. This beneficiary efficiently used many waste materials as containers for growing crops. She had an in-situ vermicompost unit to apply organic inputs for her crops in terrace. The package of practices for growing different horticulture crops were trained to her and she had more passion for growing crops in her roof top. The organic vegetables, spices and flowers were harvested round the year in an eco-friendly manner for domestic consumption.

IMPACT / OUTCOME OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION

After the intervention, Mrs. Bhanumathi is meeting 100% of her vegetable requirement from her terrace. The excess produce is distributed to friends and neighbours. She is also creating awareness by sharing her experience of growing vegetables in roof top to school children in different schools. She has also shared her success story in Doordarshan ,Port Blair for creating awareness to the women. She spends her valuable time in gardening instead of social media and she shares that her health complaints are relieved and her hobby helps her to increase her efficiency in her profession and also in household chores. Her family members are also involved in roof top gardening and they spend valuable time together. She has completely saved her expense on purchase of vegetables for domestic consumption.

INCOME GENERATION

Rs 10,000 - Rs12,000 spent on purchase of vegetables and other horticulture produce is saved from their monthly budget.

WAY FORWARD

By seeing the success, neighbours started growing vegetables in roof top. She is interested to expand her terrace garden in one more terrace. She is also interested in marketing her surplus produce in future.

Contributors : V. Baskaran, K. Abirami, Augustine B. Jerard, T. Subramani and S. K. Zamir Ahmed