HYDERABAD: “The food that is available in the market is not healthy anymore. We need to grow vegetables and fruits organically. We want more people to go in for terrace gardening, make use of the spaces that are available. This can be a start to healthy lifestyle,” said J Aruna, assistant director, horticulture department.
She was speaking at an awareness programme on terrace garden conducted at the Horticulture Technical Training Institute here on Wednesday. Keeping in view the fast pace at which Hyderabad is growing and changing, the state horticulture department has initiated the Urban Vegetable Farming Scheme.
The scheme also aims at creating a greener and cooler city.
The department provides those interested with a gardening kit at a subsidised price consisting of silpaulin covers, potting mixture, seeds, neem cakes, neem oil, implements, pot tray, polyfeed and a cloth bag.
“Those interested can purchase this kit for Rs 3,000 that will be delivered in a week’s time. They should be residents of twin cities and have at least 50 sq feet space for a garden, They will have to provide a few documents and can apply online too,” Aruna said. There were 55 urban farmers who attended the training programme.
“They were from various parts of the city and were trained by people from the Horticulture Society. They visited us to take a look at the model terrace garden that is in our institute,” said Aruna.