Kejriwal Government to soon launch its Urban Farming Policy inculcating the best practices & solutions from across the globe
Urban Farming will significantly help increase Delhi’s Green Cover – Gopal Rai
Promotion of Urban Farming techniques like hydroponics, greenhouse farming, kitchen garden, farmlets, aeroponics, ravoponics, and aquaculture discussed during the conference- Gopal Rai
All companies & technology providers have been ordered to submit detailed report on their respective urban farming models to the department- Gopal Rai
Urban farming as an industry has the potential to generate thousands of green jobs in global megacities like Delhi: Reena Gupta, Advisor to the Environment Minister
NEW DELHI:
A round table conference on the matter of urban farming was held today at the Delhi Secretariat under the chairmanship of Environment Minister Shri Gopal Rai, comprising diverse technology providers. Various agricultural technologies for urban farming were explored at the conference. Along with growing green cover in Delhi through urban farming, it has also been agreed to create jobs, with the Directorate of Horticulture as the nodal agency. The Kejriwal Government will soon launch its Urban Farming Policy inculcating the best practices & solutions from across the globe.
Environment Minister Shri Gopal Rai said, “With a change from farmland and greenery to concrete dwellings, noise, and rising population density, Delhi’s metropolitan regions are becoming increasingly crowded. In such a situation, future reforestation drives in Delhi will almost certainly run out of space. The Delhi government is planning an urban farming strategy in light of these likely circumstances. This plan’s goal is to promote and empower everyone in Delhi to be able to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and other essentials in their own houses.”
Giving information about the Round Table Conference, Shri Gopal Rai said, “New models and practices were discussed with various companies and technology providers at the Delhi Secretariat today on the topic of urban farming, which is one of the 14 objectives of the Summer Action Plan released in Delhi. This round table conference brought together companies and technology providers from all around the country. Flora Consultant, Harwell Agro, Bhumika Organics, EasyGrow, MR Farms, Edible Roots, RS Polymer, and Sow Good are among them. All of these businesses and technology providers are involved in agriculture in some or the other way. Hydroponics, Greenhouse Farming, Kitchen Garden, Farmlets, Aeroponics, Revoponics, and Aquaculture are some of the sectors in which they work.”
He informed, “Various technology providers presented various Urban Farming models/practices fit for Delhi’s climatic and space conditions during the conference. All of these companies/technology providers have also been obliged to give full information about their Urban Farming models to the department. On the basis of this a new work project for urban farming in Delhi will be developed.”
“In addition to enhancing Delhi’s green cover, it has been decided to create jobs through Urban Farming. Its nodal agency will be the Director of Horticulture, who would communicate all agricultural information with the local population through various campaigns,” he added.
Shri Gopal Rai said, “Through Urban Farming, the public in Delhi will be able to reduce the excessive consumption of chemical products in their everyday life, thereby improving their health.”
Ms Reena Gupta, Advisor to the Environment Minister said, “Urban farming as an industry has the potential to generate thousands of green jobs in global megacities like Delhi. The industry has seen several innovations over the past few years, and it is important to understand these innovations and models before launching a full fledged urban farming campaign in Delhi. Today’s meeting gave us the opportunity to interact with these industry leaders and learn about their model. We will soon launch the best possible model suitable for Delhi.”
What is urban farming?
Residents can cultivate fruits, vegetables, and plants on their terraces under Urban Farming if there is enough sunlight. Urban farming would help inhabitants avoid pesticides and other dangerous chemicals in the food they eat on a daily basis, while simultaneously enhancing the city’s green initiatives. The Horticulture Department would be in charge of serving as the initiative’s nodal point.