Workshop on "Roof Top Kitchen Gardening : An initiative" and Farmers Fair organized

A Workshop on "Roof Top Kitchen Gardening: An Initiative” – cum - Farmers Fair was organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR- Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow on January 28, 2020. Inaugurating the Workshop-cum-Farmers Fair, Mrs. Sanyukta Bhatia, Mayor, Lucknow said that the inclusion of vegetables in our diet is extremely important for healthy and disease free life, as the vegetables not only protect our body from diseases, but also an abundant source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which are essential for good nutrition. Mrs. Bhatia further added that the rural people are migrating to the urban areas, leading to increase in the urban population besides, increasing pollution. Different types of chemicals are being used indiscriminately for the vegetables cultivation, making it very toxic and injurious to human health. This programme is being popularized by KVK of ICAR-IISR, Lucknow in the urban areas not only for making the availability of chemical free green vegetables, but also ensures proper utilization of time, saving money, creating awareness of agriculture and developing positive thinking among urban women. Mrs. Bhatia also distributed Certificates and Memento to the best performers in roof top gardening and kitchen gardening.

At the outset, Dr. A.D. Pathak, Director, IISR welcomed the guests and the participants and highlighted the achievements made by KVK, Lucknow on roof top kitchen gardening in urban areas and kitchen gardening in rural areas and suggested that KVK should be given more emphasis on roof top gardening Dr. S.N. Singh, Principal Scientist & Nodal Officer, KVK, Lucknow highlighted about the purpose of organizing this awareness programme for urban women. Dr. Singh said that the unutilized land in urban areas surrounding their houses can be used as per the requirement of vegetables and fruits. Growing of vegetables can be taken up for balanced meals and making the surroundings clean and green. Dr. Singh advised them to grow green vegetables such as tomato, brinjal, chilli, spinach, coriander, fenugreek, capsicum and lemon on the roof top, in the earthen pots, polythene bags, plastic buckets, unused drums and other utensils or producing chemical-free green and seasonal vegetables round the year. Dr. Singh further added that growing of vegetables on roof tops will not only be helpful in keeping the surroundings neat and clean, but also can be used as a hobby and creating an artistic and creative interest. On this occasion, seeds of improved varieties of different vegetables were also provided to the urban women trainees. The Scientists and staff of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra were also present during the programme. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. A.K. Dubey, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, Lucknow. The programme was actively conducted by Dr. Veenika Singh, Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science) and Dr. Vivekanand Singh, Subject Matter Specialist (Horticulture). On this occasion, Sh. Indramani Tripathi, Nagar Ayukt; Shri Prabhunath Rai, President, Bhojpuri Samaj; Shri C.P. Srivastava, Deputy Director (Agriculture), U.P. Govt.; Dr. S.R. Singh, and Dr. Kanchan Srivastava, Principal Scientists, ICAR-CISH, Lucknow. The programme was attended by more than 500 urban and rural women.