ENPHO under the Green Rooftop Farming- Water for Life project, with the support of UN-Habitat, in collaboration with Madhyapur Thimi Municipality organized ‘Dissemination and Project Closing Workshop’ on 29th March 2022 at Madhyapur Thimi Municipality (MTM) Hall, Bhaktapur. The major objective of the workshop was to share the findings of the rooftop farming study among the relevant community and stakeholders and closing of the project officially.
The workshop started with the semi-formal session where, Mr. Churamani Panthi, Chief administrative Officer, MTM, Mr. Prashanna Man Pradhan, Senior Program Manager, ENPHO, Mr. Prabin Bajracharya, Senior Program Officer, UN-Habitat were welcomed and chaired on the dais. Mr. Churamani Panthi during his welcome speech, welcomed and thanked all the guests and participants for their valuable presence and effort to make the project successful. Furthermore, he highlighted that due to the huge success and increasing effectiveness of the Green Rooftop Farming Project, Municipality is now planning to allocate the budget for rooftop farming promotion in next year’s program. Madhyapurthimi Municipality has been adopting rooftop farming as alternative agriculture, is going to take it forward as a campaign.
Following remarks, Mr. Prashanman Pradhan, ENPHO expressed delight over the inclusion of kausi farming in the municipality’s program. He highlighted that Municipality has already taken ownership of the promoting rooftop farming program. He stressed the need for the government to give continuity to the programs as there would be a limited time period for any project.
Ms. Srijana Shakya, Senior WASH Officer, ENPHO shared the overall progress of the project. She emphasized on the aim of the project which is to promote innovative ways of urban agriculture through capacity building of city dwellers to support food security and to contribute to waste management thereby conserving water and reducing the impact of climate change.
Followed by the presentation, finding of the rooftop farming study conducted by ENPHO was shared by Mr. Sushil Dahal, Research Officer, ENPHO. He highlighted the key findings of the study and mentioned that the study further helped for marketing the products of rooftop farming and it’s wider promotion.
Rooftop farmers shared their experience with the supply of green vegetables for their own house through rooftop farming and also stated that it keeps their physical and mental health healthy. They informed that they have started rooftop farming in a systematic way after training provided by the municipality and ENPHO on the methods of preparing soil, plantation, making household pesticides, and composting from organic wastes.
Mr. Madan Sunder Shrestha, Mayor, MTM put forward his closing remarks and concluded the workshop by thanking all the participants for their participation and making the project successful. In his remarks, he stated that, “’Green Roofotp Farming Water for Life Project’ was targeted for 100 households and witnessing its effectiveness, the municipality has decided to expand the program to more households.” He also mentioned that, the municipality has already provided training on roof farming to 300 households within the current fiscal year.”
Altogether 45 participants including municipality staff, rooftop farmers participated in the workshop.
