Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will hold an exhibition on rooftop farming, Mayor Md Atiqul Islam has announced.

The mayor made the announcement on Tuesday (2 July) at a meeting at DNCC's Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan. The meeting was held to frame a policy setting eligibility and selection procedures for rooftop gardeners and tree planters entitled to rebates in the DNCC area, and on steps to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

The DNCC mayor said Dhaka lacks enough space for gardens or farming, so rooftops can be a big area for agriculture. "It feels good to go up to a roof that has a garden or crops. It provides fresh fruit and vegetables and also helps lower the temperature of the building. Rooftop farming also helps protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. Many people in Dhaka are doing rooftop farming. To encourage them further, we will organise an exhibition on rooftop farming," he said.

He instructed the relevant department to arrange the exhibition for November.

The mayor added: "I had announced a 10 percent tax rebate for rooftop gardens. In response to our proposal, the ministry has approved tax rebates on planned rooftop gardens for all city corporations. A policy is being drawn up with experts. Once the policy on eligibility and selection of rebate-eligible rooftop gardeners and tree planters is framed, city residents will get holding tax rebates."

Media personality Shykh Seraj was present at the meeting. He said vegetables and fruit people grow on their own roofs matter a great deal to them and are a source of great joy. Besides eating the vegetables from rooftop farming, many are also benefiting financially, he said, and if the city corporation gives a tax rebate on rooftop farming it will be an honour for city residents.

Also present were DNCC chief executive officer Mir Khairul Alam, secretary Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique, chief engineer Brigadier General Md Moin Uddin, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) director KJM Abdul Awal, DNCC chief estate officer Dr Mohammad Mahe Alam and chief revenue officer Abdullah Al Baki, among others.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.