Roof Top Farming Exhibition in Kathmandu

One day exhibition Program “Roof Top Farming Mela” was jointly organized by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), UN-Habitat, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), ISET-Nepal with many other stakeholders on 7th June, 2014 at the premises of Trolley bus station, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. The program was organized on the occasion of World Environment Day and National Sanitation Week 2014. The major objective of the program was to encourage people residing in the city to promote greenery and campaign for food security in the capital along with disseminating the information on various possible simple technologies and products of Roof Top Farming (RTF).

The inauguration program was organized under the chairmanship of Mr. Dhan Bahadur Shrestha, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Kathmandu Metropolitan City, chief guest Honorable Mr. Prakash Man Singh, Deputy Prime Minister and Local Development Minister and special guests Mr. Krishna Hari Bastola , Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council Minister, Mr. Kishor Thapa, Secretary at Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and guests Mr. Laxman Aryal, former CEO, KMC and Mr. P.S Joshi, Program Manager at UN Habitat.

The formal program was initiated with the honoring by bouquet and khadas to the guests. Chief guest Honorable Minister Mr. Prakash Man Singh inaugurated the program by planting and watering the vegetable plant in styalofoam box. Mr. Kishor Thapa, Mr. Laxman Aryal, Mr. Krishna Hari Bastola and Mr. Chandramani Bhattrai were honored with Token of Loves for their contribution in improving environment and greenery.

Similarly, all 25 organizations participating in the exhibition were honored for their contribution to make the RTF Mela successful by their active participation in showcasing various technologies and products they have been promoting using real model of RTF, solid waste management, Rain Water Harvesting technologies, Photo exhibition, Documentary show, and others informative displays.

ENPHO has appreciated for the successful completion of RTF project. The selected community people were also rewarded for best Roof Top Farming. After the rewarding ceremony, Chief Guest Honorable Minister Mr. Prakash Man Singh delivered speech on importance and effectiveness of RTF and encouraged people to adopt and promote RTF as much as possible. Finally the formal program was ended with closing remarks by Chairman Mr. Dhan Bahadur Shrestha. All the guests then visited the stall at the exhibition to observe different techniques and products being displayed. Large number of general public visited and observed the exhibition on RTF and many of them committed and showed their keen interest on RTF at their homes as well.