The residential area for teachers of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the country's leading engineering institution, is truly different: neat, clean and tidy. On top of a four-storey building, flowers, fruit and crops have been arranged across 2,600 square feet.

The farmer, Tania Sultana, spent many years abroad and, after returning, took up rooftop farming to be close to soil, nature and crops. Her love of plants and nature began in childhood.

She has a special weakness for flowers and has collected orchids of many species from home and abroad. She has also begun growing crops: tomatoes, red amaranth, taro leaves, chilli, aubergine and more, and she has a collection of strawberries. She has already become quite experienced with colourful foreign winter fruits. Beyond her BUET teacher husband and child, the roof has become a kind of refuge for her.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Chhad Krishi (episode 288). First published in Bengali on The Agro News.