Vijayawada: With growing public interest in cultivating safe, pesticide-free vegetables at home, terrace gardeners across Andhra Pradesh are urging the state government to reinstate the earlier subsidy scheme that supported rooftop gardening. The demand aligns with the government’s broader push for organic food to combat chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.In Vijayawada alone, there are nearly 650 active terrace gardeners. Among them, a group named ‘One Earth – One Life’ is leading the movement to promote rooftop gardening. The group, which has 354 active members, trains individuals in creating terrace gardens, composting kitchen waste, and improving soil quality without the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Members are also trained in innovative pest control measures and grafting techniques.Penumatsa Shyam Kumar, a key member of the group, said that although public interest is high, the initial cost of setting up a terrace garden discourages many. “In the past, the Horticulture Department provided subsidised terrace garden kits worth Rs 6,000. Beneficiaries paid Rs 3,000, and the government covered the rest,” he said. The kits included grow bags, five types of vegetable seeds, neem cake, water sprinklers, organic pesticides, and nutrient-rich soil.Thanks to these subsidies, nearly 8,000 households across the state started kitchen gardens between 2014 and 2020. Many of them now grow their own fruits and vegetables, improving their health and reducing dependence on chemically treated produce.Terrace gardeners highlight that the presence of harmful pesticides in market-sold produce is well documented. Growing food at home, they say, not only ensures safety but also promotes a healthier lifestyle.Recently, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Achanna Naidu conducted a review on the matter. He announced that a roadmap will soon be prepared to promote kitchen gardens on the rooftops of every household in the state.
