HUMAN PERSPECTIVES ON ROOFTOP GARDENING FOR ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN COVID-19 SITUATION IN DHAKA CITY, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Introduction: To ensure greenery in this busy city, the trend of growing vegetables on green roofs has gained momentum as a way of promoting agricultural sustainability in Dhaka City. However, due to the pandemic havoc caused by COVID-19 outbreak, people now a days have realized the extensive need for such green practice in urban areas to ensure their own food security. Objections: The objectives of this study were to explore the necessity of small-scale gardening or rooftop gardening (RTG), how it helped people by providing their food demands during this pandemic situation. By following the purposive random sampling technique, a total of 100 respondents (who were already practicing RTG) took part into the survey from two city corporation areas named Mirpur, Uttara (Dhaka North City Corporation) and Dhanmondi, Malibagh (Dhaka South City Corporation) areas of Dhaka city. Results and Discussion: Results of the study showed that more than 60% of the respondents got direct support from their roof top gardening during this COVID-19 situation. Almost 41% of the respondents claimed that this food supply was enough for them to sufficiently meet their need for vegetables for a single day. Most importantly, more than 90% of the respondents shared that, if provided with proper training and necessary supports, roof top gardening can be the best solution to ensure food security in post pandemic world. Conclusion: In the end, some recommendations have been suggested on how it can be used to ensure food security in countries with less agricultural lands like Bangladesh.