Fruit and crops are growing on the roof of the Agriculture Secretary's official residence. The rooftop farmer is the secretary's wife, Nasima Khanam, who has shown that farming can be part of city life.
A rare green roof
The houses of Eskaton have high-walled roofs. Each flat houses a different family and the roofs are shared, so most stay empty. This roof is one of the few exceptions. Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah lives on the second floor, and his wife Nasima Khanam runs the rooftop farm.
Fruit and vegetables
The roof is not large, but it grows fruit, flowers and many vegetables: pummelo, mango, malta, dragon fruit, green chilli, bottle gourd, lemon, aubergine and jujube, like a skilled farmer's field. Nasima Khanam puts many hours a day into it.
The secretary also finds time for the rooftop farm and says his love of farming makes this official residence a favourite place. Working here has deepened the couple's sense of responsibility for and love of agriculture.
They believe many steps are needed to curb urban heat in an age of climate change, and rooftop farming can be a very successful one, greening city life and reducing pollution.
Source: Shykh Seraj, Chhad Krishi. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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