Bhubaneswar: In a move to promote urban greenery and sustainable living, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, flagged off a special campaign vehicle—referred to as a Ratha—at Krushi Bhavan today. The initiative aims to raise awareness about rooftop and home gardening across Odisha’s urban areas.
The campaign is being implemented under the State Plan Scheme – Innovative Projects for Promotion of Urban Horticulture, funded by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and executed by the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar.
Speaking at the event, Singh Deo highlighted the growing urbanization across Odisha and the resulting decline in green spaces due to increasing concrete structures. “Through this novel effort, the government is encouraging greenery by promoting rooftop and home gardening in residential and institutional buildings,” he said. The initiative will cover the five major cities of the state—Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Jeypore.
He added that the project is aligned with the government’s broader vision to enhance urban sustainability, reduce the urban heat island effect, and create a healthier living environment. To achieve this, innovative technological interventions in rooftop gardening, peri-urban, and urban horticulture are being promoted for their nutritional, aesthetic, and environmental benefits.
The campaign vehicle will travel through various urban zones of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack during a month-long awareness drive. It will engage with residents, educational institutions, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and local organizations. Equipped with audio-visual materials in Odia and English, the vehicle will also display technical exhibits and distribute informative pamphlets. Interactive sessions will be organized to offer expert guidance to interested citizens.
Following its operations in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the campaign will extend to other cities including Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Jeypore. The broader goal is to build community participation, encourage rooftop gardening practices, and eventually introduce competitions to recognize model rooftop gardens.
Director of Agriculture & Food Production Subham Saxena, Additional Secretary Shubhranshu Mishra, and other senior officials attended the launch ceremony and encouraged citizens to contribute to the collective goal of greener and healthier urban spaces.
