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Time of India
02-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Many Bengalureans are growing their own fruits and vegetables
MV Ramani has turned her little yard into an orchard, vibrant and bountiful, despite constraints of space, time, and water. Nature has been kind to her, rewarding her with star fruits that match the size of her palm. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The garden is dotted with fig, guava and pomegranate trees, and serves as a sanctuary for bees and butterflies. Ramani maintains a terrace garden too, where she cultivates vegetables including tomato, brinjal, chillies, gourds and greens. Even her fruit plants like guava and Indian jujubes are grown on funky, fluorescent blue pots. 'We had a farm, and between farm and home, we used to grow everything that we eat. Wherever there is space, I fill it with greenery,' says Ramani, a legal professional who works as a partner at LexOrbis. Her husband T Suvarna Raju, former chairman & MD of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), is a plant lover too and he helps Ramani with smart gardening solutions using his engineering skills. Urban farming is a different ball game altogether. Growing plants in city spaces demands a lot of patience, dedication and care. Sourcing affordable soil, seeds or cow dung for fertilisation itself can sometimes prove difficult. Property owners frequently object to tenants placing heavy pots on rooftops. Issues with water seepage and stains may arise, if care is not taken. And pests do not spare even plants grown on the 20th floor of residential buildings. However, amid all these challenges, many Bengalureans are taking up farming. They cultivate fruits and vegetables in their gardens, balconies and rooftop spaces. 'Urban farming is becoming more than a trend. It's a movement,' says Ramita Maharjan, resident of Brigade Millennium in JP Nagar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'More and more people are growing their own food on rooftops in search of better health, peace of mind and a deeper connection with nature,' she adds. Hand-pollination Anand Havaldar's garden is a testament to his resourcefulness. The 51-year-old who works as a senior engineer at Nexteer Automotive India cultivates a variety of plants, including Brahma Kamal, in his terrace garden. The night-blooming flower would fill Anand's garden with its sweet fragrance, but would not produce fruits. 'The plant remained barren as pollination never happened,' says Anand, who holds a diploma in agriculture from the Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra (GKVK). Anand overcame the challenge by hand pollinating – taking pollen from one Brahma Kamal plant to the other. Soon, it bore fruits, bringing him much joy, and earning him stardom among local gardeners. Water, air, coco peat, instead of soil Water and coco peat are extensively used instead of traditional soil as a growing medium. Coco peat's moisture retention capabilities reduce watering frequency, points out Bhuvana Sharma, a scientist who works with GKVK's National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS). 'Coco peat is lightweight too, making it easy to handle,' she says. Usha Gopinath, a former IT professional, uses coco peat to grow microgreens. 'I grow ragi, wheat, chia seed, mustard, red radish, and fenugreek microgreens,' says the 44-year-old who lives in Pearl City in Sarjapur, adding, 'It's hard to get children to eat vegetables. I just sneak those tiny plants into their toasts, salads and soups and they devour it.' Some microgreens, Bhuvana says, are 40% more nutritious than their mature counterparts. Microgreens can be cultivated on moist tissue papers as well. These baby plants can typically be harvested a week or two after germination. 'All you have to do is water them 4-5 times a day. Avoid overwatering. Microgreens don't require manure,' says Usha. Dav Fod, a former assistant professor of sociology, grows over 12 varieties of microgreens including wheat grass. Aeroponics, a method wherein plant roots are suspended in the air and provided nutrient solutions, rather than relying on soil, is also gaining popularity. 'There are farms in and around Bengaluru trying different techniques like this. Aeroponics allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of plants, including leafy greens, vegetables, herbs, and even some fruits. This technique is particularly well-suited for crops like lettuce, spinach, basil, tomatoes, and strawberries,' says Dav. A forest in a yard Neelima Gudipati lives in an independent house in Margodanahalli where she maintains a garden with plants growing in containers and soil beds. Her wild and untamed garden has mango, ginger, mulberry, guava, pear, lemon, banana, tomato, manathakkali, star fruit, dragon fruit, Chinese potato and brinjal. She also grows leafy vegetables such as coriander, amaranthus and Malabar spinach. Her children, Suhas and Sahaj, particularly enjoy the passion fruit juice, chikoo almond milk shake, star fruit salad and flat beans palya that she makes using homegrown produce. Neelima creates an environment that mirrors natural forest conditions, allowing fallen leaves and branches to form a protective layer on the ground. This helps the soil retain moisture. Termites in the garden help decompose the twigs. 'Nature sustains forests without human intervention,' she tells us as we stroll through her garden. Neelima leaves her pomegranates unharvested for local wildlife. "Squirrels and birds visit regularly to feast on these fruits," she says. VOICE BOX Wherever there is space, I fill it with greenery. Like me, all the urban gardeners face the constraints of space, as well as water, especially in summers. Despite these, we are trying to grow whatever and wherever we can. Hydroponics and aquaponics are making their way into balconies. We have an aquaponics set up where the technology allows the water from the fishpond to be circulated to grow plants and recycled to the pond. MV Ramani, LEGAL PROFESSIONAL AND RESIDENT AT CASCADING MEADOWS, TC PALYA During the construction of the Tungabhadra dam, my grandfather relocated from his village, bringing his cherished plants with him. The curry leaf plants I now have are descendants of those original plants, being at least 100 years old. For nourishing my plants, I rely on vermicompost and kitchen compost as fertilisers. My dragon fruit plant produces up to 70 fruits annually. I source my gardening supplies from Bio Centre, a government organisation. When I'm away, I water my plants using a drip irrigation system equipped with a pump and timer. Anand Havaldar, 51, SENIOR ENGINEER AT NEXTEER AUTOMOTIVE INDIA Over the years, I've learnt a lot about plant cultivation. I grow nitrogen-fixing plants around my papaya trees. When you prune nitrogen-fixing plants, they release nitrogen into the soil as they no longer require it after being cut. This released nitrogen gets absorbed into the soil, becoming available for the papaya plant to utilise. This helps the papaya plant become healthier. This process serves as a natural alternative to the conventional NPK fertilisers typically used in cultivation. I nurture my plants with a lot of love. I communicate with them, show them tenderness and kiss them. When I collect their produce, I thank them. I think plants experience joy when raindrops first touch them, and observing this is a delight. I love waking up to the sight of morning dew adorning their foliage. I follow sustainable gardening practices. I use organic manure including dry leaves, cow dung, coco peat and jeevamruta. Neelima Gudipati, RESIDENT, CASCADING MEADOWS, MARGODANAHALLI Microgreens can be easily grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers. I cultivate a dozen different varieties, and coco peat serves as my preferred growing medium. Dav Fod, URBAN FARMER As we farm, we see how birds, butterflies, and animals become part of the ecosystem. They too are nourished, and we begin to understand that farming is not possible without them. We realise we need them far more than they need us. Nature thrives without humans, but we cannot survive without her. Through this journey, we learn gratitude, compassion, sharing, and interdependence – values that we then pass on to the next generation. Ramita Maharjan, RESIDENT OF BRIGADE MILLENNIUM AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF RISHIPATH WELLNESS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT THAMMAPURAM I started growing plants very recently. I grow microgreens. My ground cultivation includes spinach, pudina, brinjal, chilli, curry leaves and bitter gourd. For nourishment, I provide my plants with crushed eggshells, banana peel juice, powdered vegetable peels and rice water. I also utilise garlic extract as a natural defence against plant ailments. Tending to these plants brings me immense satisfaction! Usha Gopinath, 44, FORMER IT PROFESSIONAL, LIVES IN SARJAPUR My garden has evolved from flowering plants to include fruits and vegetables. The fruit varieties I cultivate include sapota, guava, pomegranate, apple, fig, dragon fruit, papaya, mulberry and grapes. Vegetables include tomato, chillies, lady's finger, greens, brinjal, drum stick, bitter gourd, Chinese potato, and chow chow. I maintain flowering plants amongst the vegetables as they are essential for facilitating pollination. I use lightweight containers such as plastic pots and grow bags for easier handling. The potting mix can be made less heavy by incorporating cocopeat, leaf mould, rice husk and reduced soil quantity. For nourishment, I use kitchen compost and various nutrient solutions prepared from onion peel, potato peel, banana peel and similar ingredients. Due to water scarcity, I rely on aero outlet water and STP water. I make pots out of old cans and bottles. Preetha Suresh, 57, FORMER BANKER, AND RESIDENT, TC PALYA
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
87.6 per cent of 'garden city' is concrete, mercury rising
BENGALURU: Bengaluru's concrete cover is a solid 87.6 per cent, having increased by 10 per cent over the past decade. This has had a multiple effect on the city, leading to the creation of many heat archipelagos, a rise in temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions, besides affecting citizens' health. A cluster of urban heat islands within a city or region is called an 'urban heat archipelago' and represents the combined effect of multiple localised heat islands, forming a broader area of elevated temperatures. A micro-level study of Bengaluru's landscape 'Urban Heat Island Linkages with the Landscape Morphology', released on Tuesday, shows that lakes and trees cover a mere 12 per cent. The report, prepared by researchers from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, pointed out that increase in concretisation is also a reason for many diseases, including heart attacks and lifestyle disorders. Prof TV Ramachandra from IISc, co-author of the study, said there is a direct relation between reduction of lung spaces, increasing concretisation and deterioration of health. 'During the study, we found that the basic criteria of ensuring 30 per cent setback (thermal comfort space as architects call it) remains only on paper while seeking plan sanction from civic authorities. These thermal comfort zones not just help regulate urban temperatures, but also ensure good health. Corruption and lack of checks on the ground is the reason for this violation. It also leads to urban flooding,' he said. The report showed that urban green islands like the GKVK, IISc and Jnanabharathi campuses are also being compromised. For the study, researchers used temporal remote sensing data (from 1973 to 2025) through supervised non-parametric classifier. The report stated that the built-up area increased from 7.97 per cent (1973) to 87.64 per cent (2025). Bengaluru saw a boom in spatial expansion from the year 2000 with the formation of BBMP, when adjacent rural areas were incorporated and agricultural lands were converted to paved surfaces. 'The city's landscape saw a 1078 per cent increase in built-up area, and a decline of 88 per cent vegetation cover and 79 per cent water bodies, leading to the transition from porous to paved surfaces, affecting the hydrology, ecology and socio-economic aspects,' Ramachandra said.
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
BWSSB to plant 60,000 saplings to commemorate diamond jubilee
As part of diamond jubilee celebrations, the BWSSB has launched a large-scale tree plantation drive titled 'Green Path - Water's Future', with the aim of planting 60,000 saplings across its jurisdiction, said BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar on Monday. Inaugurating the campaign at the GKVK campus, Manohar symbolically planted 60 sapling varieties. 'A green environment is essential for both water conservation and ecological balance. Citizens must contribute by planting trees in their surroundings to make our city greener and more beautiful. BWSSB owns several land parcels across Bengaluru, and our aim is to convert them into green zones,' he said. Manohar further noted that the campaign, inspired by World Environment Day, aims to plant 60,000 saplings over the coming year under the guiding theme — 'Green Path - Water's Future'. To encourage broader participation, BWSSB has appealed to bulk water users, including apartment complexes, industries, tech parks, and educational institutions to actively join the campaign. They are being asked not only to plant saplings within their premises, but also to take responsibility for their upkeep and maintenance. Additionally, all BWSSB divisions and offices have been instructed to take the lead in planting trees in their respective areas and service zones.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Adopt lab-to-land and land-to-lab approach, Karnataka chief minister tells agriculture department
Bengaluru: Stressing the need for farmer-centric research and innovation in agriculture, chief minister Siddaramaiah Friday urged the agriculture department to adopt a lab-to-land and land-to- lab approach to introduce new technologies to farmers. Felicitating progressive farmers from various parts of Karnataka during Super Star Raitha (Super Star Farmer) summit organised by Vijay Karnataka, sister publication of The Times of India, at GKVK in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said adoption of technology in agriculture will create more job opportunities. Stressing that the country's economy will progress only if agriculture sector booms, the CM said: "Farmers are the reason for our self-sufficiency in food production; our officials and scientists must develop technology based on farmers' experience. This will help them scale greater heights at a time when farmers' income has taken a severe hit following decline in soil fertility due to plummeting organic carbon content by 43%. Agriculture will be lucrative for youngsters only if you adopt integrated farming system (IFS)." The CM hailed Vijay Karnataka's effort to identify and honour farmers who have made a difference by adopting IFS method. He promised a crackdown on spurious seeds and pesticides.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Embrace tech for sustainable agriculture: Cheluvarayaswamy
Mandya: Change is the law of nature, and the traditional mindset that agriculture equates to hard labour, debt, and losses must be abandoned, said district minister N Cheluvarayaswamy. He emphasised that by embracing technology and modern agricultural machinery, farmers can achieve financial stability and sustainable growth. Speaking at the inauguration of a special technical workshop on sugarcane, paddy, and ragi cultivation—from sowing to marketing—at the Agricultural College, VC Farm in Mandya on Wednesday, the minister highlighted Mandya's strong agricultural roots. He noted that agricultural scientists and institutions are introducing innovative methods to boost productivity and profitability. "Growing the same crop continuously depletes soil nutrients and reduces yields," he warned. To combat this, he recommended a simple crop rotation strategy: divide a 3-acre plot into three sections, cultivate different crops in each, and rotate them annually. He acknowledged farmers' hesitation in adopting new techniques but suggested implementing them on a trial basis on a portion of their land. "Once they see the benefits, they can expand these practices to their entire holdings," he added. Cheluvarayaswamy also addressed the issue of marketing. "While crops like paddy and ragi take around six months to mature, marketing starts immediately after harvest—often directly from the fields," he said. He urged farmers to focus on value addition techniques to maximise their earnings. To tackle the labour shortage in agriculture, he announced that the govt has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for agricultural mechanisation . As part of this initiative, Rs 40 lakh subsidy is being offered for high-tech harvesting machines , benefiting around 350 farmers so far. In a significant development, a new agricultural university has been approved for Mandya, to be modelled after GKVK (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru). Operations are expected to begin within three years. "Its impact and importance will become increasingly evident in the coming days," he stated. Joint director of agriculture Ashok shared insights into the district's key crops—sugarcane, ragi, and paddy. He noted that advanced techniques are being introduced to improve yields. For instance, farmers are using 'five-eye' and 'single-eye' sugarcane varieties for better productivity. Under the NREGA scheme, high-quality ragi suitable for export is now being cultivated on 2,000 hectares. To address labour shortages in paddy transplanting, workers are being sourced from outside the district, although some farmers have already started using mechanised transplanting methods. A special bi-monthly technical workshop is being organised to raise awareness and promote these modern practices among more farmers. Deputy commissioner Kumara, zilla panchayat CEO KR Nandini, SP Mallikarjun Baladandi, agricultural university special officer Harini Kumar, VC Farm dean Dr Fatima, agricultural scientists, and a large gathering of farmers were present.
