Sita Shrestha, an energized and empowered women proudly shows her effort to conserve mother earth. She is 53 years old but still young enough and enthusiastic to cultivate vegetables and grow flowers on the roof of her house. She has started to grow it for more than 2 years. She grows pumpkin, tomato, onion, chayote (iskush), green leafy vegetables, strawberries and many more. The vegetables are sold in the nearby shop and most of the times consumed by the family. She is a mother of 3 child, she happily cooks the vegetables she grow and is very satisfied with the roof top farming. During COVID-19, she exercise by involving in the rooftop farming. In a city like Kathmandu, such good practice can be one of the best way to protect earth.  She says, “environment can be saved by individual initiatives starting with a small like mine”.

Every year World Environment Day is celebrated in June 5. The theme for the year 2021 is “Ecosystem Restoration”. Plantation, change in diet, conserving flora and fauna, and any other kind of restoration of cities, oceans, farmlands, forests, etc leading to balancing the ecosystem and protecting mother earth from destruction is ecosystem restoration. Pakistan will host the world environment day officially this year as every year a particular country takes the initiative to host. Every year World Environment Day is celebrated in June 5. The theme for the year 2021 is “Ecosystem Restoration”. Plantation, change in diet, conserving flora and fauna, and any other kind of restoration of cities, oceans, farmlands, forests, etc leading to balancing the ecosystem and protecting mother earth from destruction is ecosystem restoration. Pakistan will host the world environment day officially this year as every year a particular country takes the initiative to host.

“Kaushi Kheti” is the native word used for rooftop farming in Nepal. In densely populated cities, root top farming is counterbalance as green roofs. It has various environmental benefits. As the plants filter the pollutants from air, it contributes to improved climate in urban areas.

Benefits of Kaushi Kheti

i) Kaushi Kheti enhance the urban landscape and study suggest that vegetation provides an array of psychological benefits as it enhances productivity and decrease anxiety

ii) Kaushi Kheti help to cool buildings and ultimately reduces carbon emissions.

iii) Environmental impact of food transportation gets less due to cultivation of vegetables and fruits locally.

iv) Availability of real and healthy food is inflated

v) Women empowerment is uplifted due to economic resilience

vi) Unseasonal vegetables and fruits can be grown through green house effect as a part of Kaushi Kheti

vii) Small families can easily produce enough vegetables and fruits through scientific farming

viii) Compost manure can be used which supports waste management in a environment friendly manner

A research entitled “Rooftop Gardening as A Need for Sustainable Urban Farming: A case of Kathmandu, Nepal” conducted in 2020 suggest that for the sustainability and efficiency of roof top farming, trainings should be provided to individuals. Ever since, constraints related to the establishment of roof top farming was observed.

Every day of our life need to be dedicated to save the environment which is not just on June 5. I hope to see me and all of us to save our mother earth!!