Terrace gardening in Bengaluru: An analysis

Abstract

The study was conducted in Bengaluru city of Karnataka, India to examine, explore and analyze the various dimensions of terrace gardening including the constraints faced by the terrace gardeners. The primary data was collected from 60 terrace garden practitioners of Bengaluru by personal interview method through a pre-tested interview schedule. The stakeholder mapping showed that all the stakeholders were passionate terrace gardeners and some of them were input agents and consultants. To grow and consume fruits and vegetables as a means of nutritional security was the first preference for the majority of the respondents for adopting terrace gardening and practitioners had devoted 85.7 per cent of their terrace space for terrace gardening activity. Majority of the respondents (66.67 per cent) gained information from the terrace garden enthusiasts by meeting them regularly on monthly basis. The major constraints expressed by the terrace gardeners were pest & disease infestation followed by non-insect pests such as rodents, monkeys and cats. There is a need for concerted efforts by the State Department of Horticulture and related Institutions to solve the problems by providing technical consultancy and ensure supply and services to the needy.