Bhubaneswar, July 8 (UNI) The Odisha Government today launched an innovative initiative for the promotion of urban horticulture, implemented by the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, K V Singh Deo, flagged off a campaign vehicle to promote rooftop gardening in urban areas. The campaign is funded under the State Plan Scheme.
The awareness vehicle will operate across various zones of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for over a month, reaching residential communities, educational institutions, Resident Welfare Associations, city-based organisations, and the general public.
The objective is to create awareness among urban residents about the importance, techniques, and benefits of rooftop and home gardening, in line with the state’s vision for sustainable urban living and enhanced food security.
Equipped with audio-visual educational materials in Odia and English, along with demonstrations of innovative and technical exhibits, the campaign vehicle will follow a pre-planned route covering key localities in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack before expanding to other major cities across the state.
The campaign also aims to promote rooftop and home gardening through future community engagement events, expert talks, and annual rooftop gardening competitions to encourage participation among urban gardeners.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh Deo noted that with rapid urban development across the state, green spaces are shrinking due to the growing number of concrete structures.
He emphasised that through this unique initiative, the government is promoting greenery in cities by educating and training residents and institutions on rooftop and home gardening techniques.
The government plans to implement innovative rooftop gardening technologies across five major cities—Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Jeypore.
Singh Deo added that the state government is committed to increasing urban greenery by actively promoting parks, plantations, and now, rooftop gardens.
