Odisha Launches Campaign Vehicle to Promote Rooftop Gardening and Urban Horticulture

Bhubaneswar: In a major push towards sustainable urban living, the Odisha Government today launched a month-long awareness campaign to promote rooftop gardening and urban horticulture across the state. Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, flagged off a specially designed campaign vehicle—a mobile “Ratha” to spread the message—at Krushi Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.

The initiative is being implemented under the State Plan Scheme – Innovative Projects for Promotion of Urban Horticulture, with technical support from the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES), ICAR-IIHR, Bhubaneswar.

Speaking at the launch event, Singh Deo emphasized the urgent need to reclaim urban green spaces amid the rapid expansion of concrete infrastructure in cities. “Urbanisation has led to shrinking greenery. Through rooftop and home gardening, we aim to bring nature back into the city, improving not just the aesthetics but also the health and nutrition of our people,” he said.

He noted that the government’s focus is on encouraging citizens—especially those in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Jeypore—to adopt rooftop gardening and urban horticulture by training and educating residents and institutions on innovative technologies and practices.

The campaign vehicle is equipped with audio-visual exhibits, interactive kiosks, and technical pamphlets in both Odia and English to educate city dwellers. It will visit residential colonies, schools, colleges, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and various institutions in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack over the next month before expanding to other cities.

This mobile outreach effort aims to raise awareness about the environmental, nutritional, and psychological benefits of urban gardening. It will also encourage public participation in future rooftop gardening competitions and community-driven initiatives to enhance urban green cover.

The broader campaign supports the state’s Vision for Sustainable Urban Living by reducing the urban heat island effect, promoting food security, and fostering a healthier environment. The project also focuses on peri-urban horticulture, with planned interventions to increase public involvement in growing fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants in limited spaces.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment has committed to funding similar innovative projects to encourage green practices in urban Odisha. Officials present at the event included Director of Agriculture & Food Production Subham Saxena, Additional Secretary Shubhranshu Mishra, and other senior officers of the department.