A rooftop garden started as a hobby is now a source of income for Jannatul Ferdous Juthi of Ishwardi municipality in Pabna. Selling local and foreign cactus and succulent plants online and offline, she earns Tk 15,000 to 20,000 a month.

Juthi, a homemaker, began gardening in 2019 during the coronavirus period with a few seedlings in pots on the roof of her house. In seven years the hobby has grown into a collection of more than 300 species of cactus and succulents. Her roof behind the Ishwardi municipality office holds angel wing, Christmas cactus, ladyfinger, Parodia, barrel cactus, aloe, zebra plant, Echeveria, air plants, Sansevieria and Kalanchoe, among others.

At first she collected a few plants only to brighten up the roof; over time both her interest and her investment grew. Plants are now sold commercially from home.

Her husband, Enamul Haque Babu, helps her collect rare species from different parts of the country, takes online orders from distant buyers and sends the plants by courier.

"This will encourage those who want to do something of their own from home," Juthi said. Many women, she said, have no chance to work outside the home, and a rooftop garden offers a way to become self-reliant.

Ishwardi upazila agriculture officer Abdul Momin said officials of the agriculture office keep regular track of the garden and give advice whenever it is needed.

Reported by the Pabna correspondent of Krishi Shomoy.

Source: Krishi Shomoy