JAMMU :The Division of Fruit Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu (SKUAST-Jammu), Chatha has developed an innovative Nutritional Rooftop Garden model to promote urban horticulture, healthy food and entrepreneurship.
The model has been developed under the guidance of Vice Chancellor Prof. B N Tripathi. The initiative demonstrates how unused rooftop spaces can be utilized for production of fresh, nutritious and safe food round the year, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where land availability is limited.
A diverse range of seasonal vegetables, fruits and herbs suitable for Jammu climate is being grown in the garden. Fruit crops including cape gooseberry, guava, citrus, papaya, grapes, mango and dragon fruit are also being established to create a diversified nutritional garden under rooftop conditions.
The rooftop garden has been developed under a DST J&K Science, Technology & Innovation Council funded project on “Standardization of Rooftop Nutritional garden for integrating Urban Horticulture for sustainable development policies of Jammu region” with Prof. (Dr.) Kiran Kour as Principal Investigator and Prof. (Dr.) Parshant Bakshi, Head Division of Fruit Science, as Co-Principal Investigator.
As part of seasonal programme, winter vegetable crops including radish, turnip, pea, carrot, coriander, spinach, methi, broccoli and knol-khol were sown on September 30 under the supervision of Prof. Sandeep Chopra, Head Division of Vegetable Science and Co-PI, along with Dr. Anil Bhushan, Professor, Division of Vegetable Science.
Speaking about the initiative, Prof. Parshant Bakshi said rooftop gardening can bring horticultural production closer to urban households while promoting consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. He said the model can serve as practical demonstration for students, farmers and urban communities.
The initiative also offers scope for youth entrepreneurship in areas like rooftop garden planning, nursery raising, maintenance, input supply, consultancy and management for households and institutions.
The garden will serve as a demonstration, education and technology transfer platform for farmers, urban residents, students and entrepreneurs, encouraging wider adoption of nutritional rooftop gardens across Jammu region.