Eat from the rooftop OF YOUR HOME

As a way to manage price fluctuation of vegetables, the State government introduced a green initiative recently – promotion of terrace garden and soil-less farming ideas – specially for the urbanites. Here’s how you do it

Home garden, terrace garden and soil-less farming techniques help in tackling issues such as environmental degradation, soil and water conservation and food shortage — A senior official from the horticulture department

CHENNAI: To fight vegetable price inflation and bring back the old practices of garden farming, the Tamil Nadu government has re-initiated terrace gardens and soil-less farming in urban areas.

The Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department kicked off the process of promoting terrace gardens and soil-less farming, which is aimed at fighting the sudden price rise of essential commodities such as tomatoes, shallots and other vegetables.

The Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, MRK Panneerselvam, recently directed the officials to explain the importance of home gardens, terrace gardens and soilless farming to the urbanites, and also distribute quality seedlings and seeds. He added that it would bring relief to the poor and middle class.

“Home garden, terrace garden and soil-less farming techniques are gaining a lot of momentum. This helps tackle issues such as environmental degradation, soil and water conservation and food shortage,” said a senior official from the horticulture department.

Stating that the ever-decreasing cultivated area and the number of farmers leads to the price fluctuation of essential vegetables every year, which affects the upper class and marginalised people, he added: “That’s why the government is taking steps to promote home garden, terrace garden and soil-less agriculture. Our officials, along with those from the municipal administration department, are working towards promoting this through a door-to-door campaign. In the city, we mainly approach the people living in gated communities and other apartments. We’ll distribute seedlings of essential commodities. This will help the public to tackle their daily needs from their own hands.” While welcoming the government’s initiative, experts have opined that people can grow dainty flowers, plump vegetables, juicy fruits, green herbs or a mix of everything. “Depending on the layout and size of their space, there are a variety of terrace garden ideas people can capitalise on. These gardens aren’t just limited to aesthetics either. They can also be relatively functional, allowing people to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables,” pointed out G Karthikeyan, an engineer who helps people in the city set up terrace gardens and hydroponics gardens. Another benefit of rooftop terrace and soil-less farming techniques like hydroponics is that it helps regulate the heat in the building by lowering indoor temperatures.

“It can even act as great insulators for the building during different seasons and for sound too. Besides, people have more control over the use of pesticide and harmful chemicals. It helps you to stay active as a terrace garden requires a fair share of physical work. It can also act as a habitat or ecosystem for certain birds and animals, and help reduce your overall carbon footprint,” he added.

Speaking with pride about her terrace garden, C Sermarani from Shollinganallur, said that she gets her daily vegetables from her roof garden and does not buy them from shops anymore.

“I’ve been creating and maintaining a roof garden for the last 5 years on the top floor of my house. Now, I’m growing almost 60 plants, vines and trees in my garden. Tomatoes, potatoes, chickpeas, green chillies, beetroot, cassava, shallots, onions, eggplants, cucumbers, zucchinis, ginger, turmeric, dill and vegetables and flowers are also cultivated and harvested and used for home cooking,” she elaborated.

Even her neighbours, sometimes, buy vegetables from her. “We planted seeds and pods that are available at the time and maintain them daily. Today, we’ve completely stopped buyiing from shops. Terrace garden keeps us fit and helps us stick to a day-today routine,” added Sermarani.