LoF organizes Terrace Farming

Land our Future has organized Terrace farming (Kausikheti)/gardening program and practical potting session held in Imadol, Lalitpur on July 22. The programme is all about the importance of terrace farming. Radha Bhattrai, a senior member of LoF has led the event and delivered her knowledge, ideas and experience of the terrace farming, formation of organic manure, methodology of the plantation and the precautions and controlling measures for the insects and diseases. She recommended the use of organic compost and home remedy to eliminate insects and diseases that might infect plants.

Terrace farming is more focused on utilizing biodegradable solid waste and wastewater that came from the kitchen. Likewise, we discussed on the different indoor and outdoor plants including native and exotic species. Such farming results in qualitative production of vegetables, fruits and varieties of flowering and nonflowering plants in good quantity.

As we know, Terrace farming has become the alternative farming in urban areas because of the limited land space. Kausikheti can be done on the floor of roof, terrace, or balcony; hence it can be considered as a more convenient way of farming. The concept of rooftop farming (Kausikheti), which started and caught popularity in 2013, and Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), in association with RUAF (Resources Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security) Foundation; UN-Habitat; and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) had given rooftop farming training to 150 households within the Valley in that year. It has been noticed that since the covid19 lock-down phase, people has shown much more interest in doing rooftop farming. With the passage of time, this has turned into a well known and wise practice of farming in urban areas. (By Shiksha Khanal)