Rooftop Urban Agriculture, Kathmandu

ROOFTOP URBAN AGRICULTURE KATHMANDU, NEPAL

Assessment 02 Portfolio SRD 768 Landscape Design Masterclass Master of Landscape Architecture Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment School of Architecture and Built Environment Deakin University Sujan Shrestha 218199974

Food isn’t commodity, it’s human right.

United Nations

The contents The Return Brief Key documents

Goal, strategies and processes Implementation

Background and urban problems Buildings and rooftops Design exploration and ideas

Sustainable thinking Envisioning the vision References

The Return Brief

This project is an approach to envision the potential of the rooftop spaces by converting them into a productive edible spaces and achieve multi-functional benefits.

To combat with different prevalent urban issues of Kathmandu, the brief calls for an innovative and sustainable design response through the lens of landscape architecture perspective in the form of urban agriculture.

Food insecurity due to high international import and less local production, plus food insecurity due to toxic chemically treated vegetables; loss of greenery and productive land due to rapid unplanned and uncontrolled urbanization; worsening air quality are some threatening urban issues the city has been facing for so many years and is continuing.

Seeking out the holistic solution of these urban issues through community engagement and participatory approach, rooftop urban agriculture has the immense potential to tackle with these issues.

Project name: Greening rooftops Stakeholders: People Engineers, Technicians, designers, farmers Government, Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO), International Non- Governmental Organizations (INGO) Study location: Pepsicola, Kathmandu, Nepal

Aim To scrutinize the potential of rooftop gardening and implement that on local level which would in return help in combating with numerous urban related problems, so as to produce positive multi-functional benefits on community, health and environment.

Objectives 1) Reduce consumption of unhealthy chemically treated imported and local vegetables 2) Prioritize domestic/ local produce 3) Utilize underutilized rooftop for urban agriculture and production of food a) Add greenery to tackle with issues like air pollution, urban heat island effects, environmental degradation 5) Reduce pressure of food production for increasing population 6) Preparation during political problems like economic blockade with neighboring countries, pandemics like covid-19 related with food shortages and health Issues (Nepal) 1) Due to geographical character of the country, it faces recurring natural disasters 2) Fluctuation in food prices, and poor infrastructure for transportation.

3) Pandemics such as Corid-19’s creates another challenge on top breaking the food chain system 4) Several researches show that food insecure country like Nepal are vulnerable and less prepared for outbreaks 5) Nepal rely almost entirely on international imports for agricultural products 6) Possibility of scarcity during burning issues of pandemics, post pandemics, national economy drift.

Design considerations 1) Aligned with strategic and scientific documents 2) Utilization of the space(s) that can be best used with rooftop gardening for social, environmental and economic benefits 3) Sustainable consideration like rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation 4) Seismic sensitive consideration 5) Beautification

Methodology

Design focus 1) Renovate under-utilize roof top space 2) Add greenery and increase productivity 3) Add local healthy food production 4) Improve air quality

Stage 2 • Explore and integrate methods and techniques of rooftop gardening in line with rooftop status • Preliminary sketches, ideation and development • Revisions following feedbacks and discussions with different stakeholders

Stage 1 • Extensive background research (scientific documents, research papers, books , ebooks about opportunities and challenges of rooftop urban agriculture) • Visiting different condition rooftops

Stage 3 • Concept development and plans • Framework for implementation in different scenario rooftops • Revisions following feedbacks and discussions with different stakeholders Stage 4 • Development of final package (refer to deliverables section) • Presentation of final work to different stakeholders Deliverables • 8x A1 sheets comprising of overall design process and response • Background analysis • Buildings and rooftops analysis • Design strategies and processes depicting guidelines, principles and tools • 3D perspective renders, plans, sections • Food productivity estimation • Portfolio • Slideshow • Narrated video

Key documents Rooftop Urban Agriculture

The Rooftop Growing guide

This book covers a detail insight about soilbased and hydroponics agriculture and ways to integrate onto the rooftop system.

This book includes a guidelines for setting up rooftop garden, specially soil- based.

And case studies about various successful implementation of rooftop agriculture.

Information on different vegetables, growing, harvesting manuals are included.

Guide to setting up your own edible rooftop garden

Carrot city Creating places for urban agriculture

A comprehensive guidelines about setting up soil- based rooftop garden without professionals guidance

A comprehensive information on different methods of urban agriculture along with rooftop agriculture. It includes various case

Green roofs in Cairo: A holistic approach for healthy productive cities This research journal presents overview of the initiation of Food and Agriculture’s (FAO) rooftop farming in Cairo and how it is successfully getting implemented slowly to tackle urban problems of a city in a developing country like Egypt.

Rooftop garden training manual A comprehensive guidelines on setting up soil- based rooftop garden in Nepali cities prepared by UN habitat.

Background and urban problems Nepal and Kathmandu valley Timeline Growth history of Kathmandu Urban Problems The headlines How to mitigate the urban issues?

Precedents

Nepal and Kathmandu valley

147,181 m²

Kathmandu

Kirtipur

Lalitpur

Thimi

Bhaktapur

42,925 m²

Nepal

Kathmandu valley

Kathmandu valley

Himalayan range

Nepal is a sovereign and the oldest country in South Asia, landlocked between China in the north and India in the South.

The elevation stretches as low as 70m on the Southern Nepal to the top of the world- 8848m on the peak of Mt. Everest. It’s a multicultural, multi ethnic country.

Kathmandu valley

Kathmandu is the capital and largest metropolitan city of Nepal. Kathmandu has been the centre of Nepal’s history, art, architecture, culture and economy since many years. It has multiethnic population with the follower of Hinduism and Buddhism in majority. Religious and cultural festivities play major role is the lives of people in Kathmandu.

5000m

1500m

Bowl- shaped Kathmandu valley Known as ‘city of temples’

North- South cross-section

Timeline (Nepal and Kathmandu)

Patan Durbar Square, a listed ‘world heritage site’ in Kathmandu valley

1000 BCE

Shoyambhunath shrine built in the valley

10th century

1201

1768

1779

1979

Kathmandu valley declared as UNESCO world heritage site

King Gunakama Dev established a city at the banks of Bagmati kriver

Malla dynasty as ruling dynasty of Kathmandu valley (considered as golden age)

1996

2006

Civil war between Maoist and government started

Civil war ended- peace establishment

Shah dynasty as ruling dynasty of kingdom of Nepal

2008

Became democratic republic from monarchical country

2015 Earthquakemagnitude 7.8 rector

India imposing economic blockade in Nepal

Growth history of Kathmandu

1989

(THOUSANDS) 6%

1600

5% 1200

4% 3%

800

2% 400

1%

1999

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Population growth and growth rate

Centralised administrative system is the main reason behind the migration of people to Kathmandu, and migration being the main cause of population growth in the city. People migrate for better urban facilities, education, employment from rural areas.

2009

Kathmandu is one of the fastest urbanising cities. Average annual population growth 6% since 1970s (UNDESA, 2012).

Builtup area

Current population of Kathmandu is 1.376 million.

Other

2019

Urban Problems Issue 1 Loss of greenery and productive land

1989

2019

Location: Pepsicola, Kathmandu

Unplanned and Unmonitored urbanisation

Kathmandu valley is situated at an altitude of 1200- 1400 m above sea level. Kathmandu was believed to be a lake which was later drained out before civilisation started. That’s the reason the soil of Kathmandu is fertile for agriculture.

Due to migration from rural areas to the city, it has seen rapid urban growth which is unplanned and unmonitored, and that is leading to uncontrolled urban sprawl creating different issues like: 1 Loss of greenery and productive land 2 Food insecurity due to high demand a High International import b Chemically treated unhealthy vegetables 3 Air pollution

2019

2007

Green structures

only 0.25

m²/person green structure

WHO recommendation: 8 m²/person open/ green structure

The cultivable land in Nepal has decreased by 30,334 hectares in the fiscal year 2016/17 (Source: Data of economic activities, Nepal Rastra bank).

Issue 2

Issue 3 Food insecurity due to high demand a High International import b Chemically treated unhealthy vegetables

Air pollution Nepal’s air quality ranks 177th out of 178 countries, according to Yale’s 2014 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), better only than Bangladesh.

One of the study shows the level of small particulate matter measurement over 500 micrograms per cubic metre in Kathmandu, or 20 times the World Health Organisation’s safe upper limit. (theguardian.com)

Trend of Nepal’s vegetable exports and imports over five years (edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers)

Nepal imports majority of the vegetables from India. Due to large dependency of food import from India, and insufficient local production, there has always been the underlying threatening issue of food insecurity.

During political clashes with India, Nepal has faced such circumstances of food shortages before due to economic blocade imposed by India.

my own story Back in Kathmandu, I was a patient of allergic asthma for quite a long time. I used to use nasal spray everyday in the morning and consume medicine of asthma two times a day. This continued for more than 7-8 years.

A little over two years ago I landed to Australia. I had brought with me my medicine package from Nepal to prevent from any asthma complication during my initial stay. To my surprise, I don’t know if I should consider this miracle or something else, I have never opened up my medical kit which I had brought from home since I have never have any allergic or asthma complications after my days in Australia.

This has led me think environmental condition and air quality of the places I lived before must have been responsible factor for my health complications.

My own experience has inspired me to explore more about the necessity of greenery in the city, not only for the beautification but also for the human health, ecological health, food, environment and biodiversity.

The headlines

s-sky-fuel-price Hlorld/food jF /w p L m o -F c ry s.

-un/sto antime w.hindust -blockade n w ia w d // n s: -i p o htt due-t -in-nepalrocketing .html N x tJ K b IW 4C7L8m6

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/mar/21/ air-pollution-kathmandu-nepal-liveable-smog-paris

https://k ath fer-as-gro mandupost.co m/mone ceries-b y/2020/0 ecome-s 5/22/pe carce-an o d-costly -under-lo ple-sufckdown

dens/depen lo om/new t.c n rk ie o suffic netw .nagarik -amid-in s a c e li u b n u ti s-con myrep getable https:// ia-for-ve d n -i n cy-o uction/ cal-prod

h-lev/18/hig y 7 0 / 0 lle 202 s-in-va oney/ om/m -vegetable .c t s o andup es-found-in /kathm idu https:/ sticide-res e p f o els

https://thehimal

ayantimes.com

/kathmandu/urb

anisation-leadin

g-loss-cropped

-area/

How to mitigate the urban issues?

Challenge

Opportunity

Rooftop gardening

No space left

Finding spaces on rooftop Seeing the potential of underutilised rooftops to be used as rooftop gardens, which could in turn help in : 1 Adding greenery and productive land 2 Adding local healthy food production 3 Improve air quality

Rooftop garden as holistic solution?

Participatory approach- community engagement

People’s growing interest in rooftop garden: An informal practice

4/ 201 es/ al-live i t i /c p om -ne n.c andu a i d uar athm heg ion-k t . ww lut //w pol ps: 1/air- paris t t h r/2 gma e-smo l ab

Underutilised rooftops

Precedents Project: Rooftop farming Location: Cairo, Egypt Green space in Cairo: 0.33 m²/ person Urban problems of Cairo: Lack of green spaces, rapid and dense urbanisation, urban pollution, worst air quality, unemployment, urban heat island effect, high food prices, toxic contaminants food In 2001, the initiative of Rooftop farming was initiated by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and applied on a small scale in Cairo, and later Cairo saw some successful implementation of projects conducted by different nongovernmental organisation (NGO), public institutions and private initiatives.

FAO has since then supported rooftop gardening project, and it has become an urban and peri- urban horticulture model.

Many families in Cairo have supported this project and have started gardening on rooftop.

Key learnings 1 Use of recycled material like wooden containers (barrel) with plastic sheets filled with organic elements for plants to grow (inexpensive system) 2 Techniques of soil- based (cobtainer) and hydroponics ( Nutrient film, floating) that simple, doable and costefficient 3 Use of wall for gardening consisting of plastic tubes or bags hung (recycle materials)

Precedents Project: Green Cloud Location: Shenzhen, China Area: 90 m² Year: 2018 Due to rapid urban development in Shenzhen, concrete residential buildings take up most of the space, leaving very less green public spaces.

The Ganxia 1980 green roof, Green Cloud project, launched by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to showcase a model to improve living environment.

Empty rooftop is renovated with the three-dimensional light steel structures integrated with 410 plant containers for urban agriculture.

Key learnings: 1 green roofs help in reduction of urban heat island effect, improvement of air quality and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions 2 not only environment benefits, the green roof impact could be seen towards community providing space for social, recreational and educational activities 3 helps in bringing people together and creating sense of community

Buildings and Rooftops Building form and uses Households Rooftop Analysis Close-ups SWOT analysis

Building form and uses

Study area: Pepsicola residential area, Kathmandu

Almost every residence building in Kathmandu has rooftop.

300m x 200m block Building height: 2-5 storeys

Staircase cover

Rooftop/ terrace Bedroom/ Study Living/ Kitchen

Housed by a single family, joint family or rented house- rooftops are generally used by the family who owns the house.

Private property

Residence building 70-80% Built up coverage 2-5 Storeys 75-80 % Open rooftop area

A typical Nepali contemporary residence building

Households

Bedroom Study room Toilets /bath Balcony

Bedroom Study room Toilets /bath Balcony

Bedroom Study Toilets/ bath Balcony Bedroom Kitchen Living Toilets/ bath

Kitchen Living room Guest bedroom Toilets/ bath

Joint family (6+ members) *Everyone dines in same kitchen

Tenants

Bedroom Study room Toilets /bath Balcony

Kitchen Living room Guest bedroom Toilets/ bath

Single family (3-5 members)

Rooftop

Landlord

Rooftop

Rooftop

Bedroom Kitchen Living Toilets/ bath

Rent purpose

*Landlord family use the rooftop space *Tenants aren’t allowed on rooftop

Rooftop Analysis Programs, activities , materials Cement plaster Cantilever slab Brick Beam

Upper rooftop Water tank Solar heater

Reinforced steel

Lower rooftop Spiral stair Mat for exercise/ sleep

Building’s main facade facing north

Building’s main facade facing south

East

Wind direction West Cloth drying

Sun basking

Beside basic activities like cloth dry, sun bask and view, no major activity happens on rooftop- making it less utilised.

Buildings built with...

Brick

Cement

Concrete

Rebar

Viewing

Rooftop underutilised in terms of activities

Closeups Santosh Joshi’s rooftop (At Pepsicola) Barren and underutilised

Raju Shrestha’s rooftop (At Bhaktapur) Partial utilised as gardening

Photo: Santosh Joshi

Photo: Rajkumar Shrestha

Lower rooftop

Upper rooftop Rajkumar Shrestha, university teacher (31) and Santosh Joshi, bank employee (29)- both my friends have wide space on rooftop of their house.

Santosh wants something productive on his rooftop but doesn’t have knowledge regarding that. He would certainly want a rooftop garden if he could get certain education and skills about garden setup and gardening.

Rajkumar, on the other hand, has partial utilisation of the rooftop as garden in his newly built house. The garden setup and gardening skill seems limited but the interest and intention seems legit. i.e. turning rooftop space into productive space.

SWOT Analysis

Utilisation of underutilised space Enough sunlight availabilitygood for garden

Cost of garden setup, irrigation system, drainage, management

Environmental benefits Fresh food produce

Strength

Education about agriculture for all age groups Employment - manage aand distribute produce Agro- tourism

Opportunities

Weaknesses

Structural concerns- load bearing capacity of the building Crop failure due to lack of knowledge

Threats

Design exploration and ideas Green roofs Sketches and Ideation

Green roofs

Other methods of greening the roof Soil based (container agriculture- use of recycled materials)

Green roof, very new topic to Nepal.

Easy setup - conventional gardening - light weight soil Good for residential gardening

Less costly

Simplified Hydroponics (Use of locally available materials)

Easy setup - orthodox gardening - light weight High production

Green roof elements

Good for commercial gardening

Aeroponics

Green roofs are heavy, costly and need continuous maintenance.

Adding 60 kg/m²- 200 kg/m² (extensive and semi- extensive roof) is a big concern for already built buildings which are designed without considering these loads.

Plus, for a earthquake prone region like Nepal, extra attention might be needed while adding green roof feature in the buildings.

Moderately complex setup - orthodox gardening light weight Requires high technical expertise and maintenance

Greenhouse rooftops Moderately complex setup - orthodox gardening light weight Requires high technical expertise and maintenance Extreme high production, good for commercial purpose

Some ideas and techniques that are easy to setup, light weighted, easy installation, maintenance, less costly.

Sketches and ideation

A A Exploration of ideas for climber vegetables and adding aesthetic value.

The pergola structure is perfect for climbing vegetables and creating shade spaces.

The light weight bamboo curved structure can also be thought of but requires some degree of expertise for installation.

B B Exploration of ideas for identifying zones for gardening on rooftop

C C Exploration of ideas for raised beds, growing system for soilbased, and identifying zone for NFT hydroponics

D

D Identifying zones that is capable of withstanding heavy elements And, what zone would be suitable for lighter elements

E

E Floating hydroponics exploration

F

F Nutrient Film Technique(NFT) hydroponics exploration

I

G

G Column hydroponics exploration

H

H Calculation of growing and yielding capacity of different hydroponics agriculture techniques

I Integrating basic design principles of gardening: regulating lines, transitional zones, varying sizes, sense of enclosure, repetition, central axis, focal point

Goals, Strategies and process A concept Explore Soil- based and hydroponics - methods Soil-based container - technique NFT hydroponics - technique Floating hydroponics - technique Column/ vertical - technique Vegetable types and lists Companion and opponent vegetables

Identify Buildings Zones suitable for agriculture Integrate Zones + Methods + Techniques

Goals, strategies and process

Add local healthy food production

Improve air quality

Design strategies and processes

Goals

Add greenery/ productivity

Urban Agriculture Beautification Rainwater harvesting Drip Irrigation Seismic sensitive consideration

1 Explore 2 Identify 3 Integrate 4 Implement

1 Explore methods

Agricultural methods

Soil- based

Simplified Hydroponics

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

Soil- based agriculture method uses the combination of soil and organic matter ( e.g. compost, humus) and/or other substrates (e.g. perlite, peat) for growing and developing. Plants get nutrients from this growing media.

Hydroponics agriculture method doesn’t use soil for growing. In this method, plants are supported on platform or net cups, and the water mixed with nutrient solution is delivered continously to the root of the plants.

Floating

Column/ Vertical

Why soil based?

Familiar argricultural method. The weight of the soil can be reduced by mixing with other organic matters.

Why hydroponics?

Simplified hydroponics, specially applicable in developing countries due to its low cost, less use of water, low input and maintenance system and more productivity.

Why hydroponics in Nepal?

Nepal being an earthquake prone region, for seismic sensitive design consideration due to its low weight.

Nepal: Earthquake prone region

Seismic sensitive design

1 Explore

techniques

Soil based method Cantainer cultivation

Components Vegetable Crops Container

Outlet

Polyethene film (waterproofing) Raised bed

Raised bed

Growing system: Crops grows in container filled with growing media.

Growing media: The combination of soil and organic matter ( e.g. compost, humus) and/or other substrates (e.g. perlite, peat moss).

For example: 2 part soil + 1 compost + 1 perlite, sand or vermiculite

Recycling materials

Drainage collection

Thermocol boxes

Plastic bucket

Polyethene film sheet

Grow bag

Earthen pot

Barrel drum

Simplified hydroponics Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

Components Tubing

Net cups Channel Reservoir

PVC pipe

Air stone Air pump

Water pump with timer Nutrient solution water

Nutrient solution

PVC pipe

Air space Air observing roots

Cross- section

Growing system: Crops grows in net pots fit onto PVC pipe to absorb the growing media Growing media: Nutrient solution water.

Nutrient film tank

Timer

Closed hydroponic system- drainage is recycled.

Water pump

Net cups

Simplified hydroponics Floating technique

Components Net pots

Floating platform with plants Reservoir

Air pump

Air line

Air stone

5-20 gallons

Floating platform ( Styrofoam)

Growing system: Crops grows in net cups supported on floating platform (styrofoam) containing water nutrient solution underneath the crops.

Water pump

Growing media: Nutrient solution water.

Local construction of floating hydroponics system

Timer

Net cups

Simplified hydroponics Column/ Vertical hydroponics Components Crops Tube PVC pipe

Net cups

PVC pipe

Air pump

Reservoir

PVC pipe

Net cups

Reservoir

Growing system: Crops grows in net pots fit onto PVC pipe to absorb the growing media Growing media: Nutrient solution water.

Column hydroponics made with PVC pipes and Styrofoam boxes.

1 Explore Vegetable types and lists

Leafy

| common name...scientific name...sowing month...harvesting days

Leaf Mustard

Garden Cress

Spinach

Fenugreek green

Lettuce

Sow : Aug- Dec Harvest in 30 days

Sow : 12 months Harvest in 25 days

Sow : Aug- Feb Harvest in 25 days

Sow : Aug- Jan Harvest in 25 days

Sow : Aug- Feb Harvest in 30 days

Tomato

Brinjal/ Eggplant

Okra

Capsicum

Chilli

Sow : Jan- Jul Harvest in 70 days

Sow : March - May Harvest in 70 days

Sow : Aug- Feb Harvest in 70 days

Sow : Jan - Jun Harvest in 70 days

Sow : March- May Harvest in 80 days

Brassica juncea

Lepidium sativum

Spinacia oleracea

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Lactuca sativa

Amaranthus (Tender)

Amaranthus viridis Sow : 12 months Harvest in 25 days

Fruit

Root

Allium

Solanum lycopersicum

Solanum melongena

Abelmoschus esculentus

Capsicum annuum

Radish

Carrot

Turnip

Beetroot

Sow : Aug- Oct Harvest in 40 days

Sow : Aug- Oct Harvest in 45 days

Sow : Aug- Feb Harvest in 30 days

Sow : Aug- Oct Harvest in 100 days

Onion

Garlic

Leeks

Coriander

Sow : Sept - Jan Harvest in 100 days

Sow : Sept - Nov Harvest in 70 days

Sow : July - Sept Harvest in 45 days

Sow : Sept - Nov Harvest in 60 days

Raphanus sativus

Allium cepa

Daucus carota subsp. Sativus

Allium sativum

Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa

Allium porrum

Beta vulgaris

Coriandrum sativum

Capsicum frutescens

Flower

Cauliflower

Cabbage

Broccoli

Sow : Jul - Oct Harvest in 90 days

Sow : Sept - Nov Harvest in 90 days

Sow : Aug - Feb Harvest in 60 days

Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Brassica oleracea var. italica

Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group

Sow : Jul - Oct Harvest in 60 days

Brussels spout

Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera Sow : Aug - Feb Harvest in 60 days

Marrow

Winter squash

Cucumber

Bitter Gourd

Bottle Gourd

Sow : Feb - Apr Harvest in 60 days

Sow : Feb - May Harvest in 60 days

Sow : Feb - May Harvest in 60 days

Sow : Feb - Apr Harvest in 60 days

Cucurbita

Sponge Gourd

Chayote

Sow : Feb - May Harvest in 60 days

Sow : Jan - March Harvest in 120 days

Luffa aegyptiaca

Seed

Cucumis sativus

Momordica charantia

Lagenaria siceraria

Sechium edule

String beans

Cowpea

Peas

Broad bean

Sow : Jan - Mar | Jun - Aug Harvest in 60 days

Sow : Jan - Mar | Jun - Aug Harvest in 60 days

Sow : Aug - Nov Harvest in 60 days

Sow : Aug - Nov Harvest in 80 days

Lablab purpureus

Vigna unguiculata

Pisum sativum

Vicia faba

Note: Above harvesting days apply to only soil- based.

Vegetable types and list

Leafy

| crop photos...sowing distance

Leaf Mustard

Garden Cress

Brassica juncea Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Spinach

Lepidium sativum

45 cm 30 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

30 cm 3 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Lettuce

Fenugreek green

Spinacia oleracea 30 cm 10 cm

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Lactuca sativa

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

30 cm 10 cm

30 cm 3 cm

Amaranthus (Tender)

Amaranthus viridis Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Fruit

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Root

70 cm 50 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

45 cm 25 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

70 cm 45 cm

45 cm 10 cm

Garlic

Onion

Allium cepa

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Abelmoschus esculentus

Capsicum annuum

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

60 cm 20 cm

Turnip

Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

30 cm 20 cm

Leeks

Allium sativum

15 cm 10 cm

Capsicum

Okra

Solanum melongena

Daucus carota subsp. Sativus

Raphanus sativus

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Brinjal/ Eggplant

Carrot

Radish

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Allium

30 cm 3 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Capsicum frutescens 60 cm 30 cm

Beetroot

Beta vulgaris Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

45 cm 15 cm

Coriander

Allium porrum

15 cm 10 cm

Chilli

Coriandrum sativum

30 cm 45 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

45 cm 30 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

45 cm 30 cm

Flower

Cauliflower

Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

60 cm 45 cm

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea var. capitata Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

45 cm 45 cm

Broccoli

Brassica oleracea var. italica Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

60 cm 45 cm

Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

40 cm 25 cm

Brussels spout

Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Marrow

60 cm 45 cm

75 cm 75 cm

Sponge Gourd

Seed

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

150 cm 75 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

200 cm 200 cm

Sechium edule

200 cm 200 cm

String beans

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

200 cm 200 cm

Cowpea

Lablab purpureus Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

200 cm 100 cm

Lagenaria siceraria

Chayote

Luffa aegyptiaca Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Bottle Gourd

Momordica charantia

Cucumis sativus

Cucurbita

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Bitter Gourd

Cucumber

Winter squash

Peas

Vigna unguiculata 60 cm 45 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Broad bean

Pisum sativum 45 cm 45 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

Vicia faba 45 cm 45 cm

Sowing distance: Row to row Plant to plant

60 cm 45 cm

Companion and opponent vegetables

Beans

Cabbage

Carrot

Beets Broccolli Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Cucumbers Eggplant Peas Potatoes Radishes Tomotoes

Lettuce

Beans Cucumber Lettuce Onions Spinach Potatoes

Broccoli Cauliflower Strawberries Tomatoes

Beans Lettuce Onion Peas Radishes Tomatoes

Anise Dill Parsley

Beans Cabbage Cauliflower Lettuce Peas Radishes Cucumber

Garlic Onions Peppers Sunflowers

Onionsv

Beets Brussels sprout Cabbage Carrot Cucumber Eggplant Onions Peas Radishes Spinach Tomatoes

Broccolli

Beets Broccolli Cabbage Carrot Lettuce Peppers Potatoes Spinach Tomatoes

Beans Peas Sage

Basil Coriander Onions

Kohlrabi

Beans Carrot Lettuce Onions Radishes Spinach Peppers Basil Asparagus

Broccolli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Kale Potaties

Radish

Aromatic herbs Melons Potatoes Tomato

2 Identify

buildings

Study area: Pepsicola residential area Kathmandu

Pepsicola is densely populated residential area in middle of the Kathmandu valley. The percentage of open/ green area is very less in this area.

The residential development which started in early 2000 sits on large portion of agricultural/ productive land.

Not only Pepsicola, the scenario is same in the whole city.

300m x 200m block Building height: 2-5 storeys

9 am

12 pm

winter

summer

Shadow Analysis 300m x 200m block

Fully shaded buildings

4.62 % (14/303)

Buildings without rooftops

4.95 % (15/303)

Highly favourable for rooftop garden

90%

(274/303)

3 pm

2 Identify

zones suitable for agriculture

Walls

seismic sensitive consideration

Light elements

Railings

Heavy elements

Columns

Heavy elements

Columns and beams of the buildings have highest load bearing capacity than other parts, so this informing the design to put heavier elements required for gardening on top of columns and beams.

Source: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/simply-supported-slabs-load-capacity-d_1803.html

Inward Spaces

Above beams

Light elements

Heavy elements

3 Integrate

zones + methods + techniques

Heavy elements

Container based

S

Container based

S

S

Soil- based

H

Hydroponics

H

Floating

Seed

Light elements

Container based

S

Column/ Vertical

H

Light elements Pot based

S

Container based

S

NFT

H

Heavy elements

Heavy elements

NFT

Container based

S

H

S

S

What crops?

Leafy vegetables Fruit vegetables Root vegetables Allium vegetables

The potting soil when moisturized can be of weight 800 kg/cu.m The above stacked container raised bed can hold 1.05 cu.m of potting soil, making it 800 kg

Fir plywood for the stacked garden bed as material due to its light, strong and resistant to misoisture.

Yielding capacity?

Leafy : Spinach, Mustard leaf Fruit : Tomato Root : Raddish Carrot Allium: Garlic

4 kg/m²/cycle 4 kg/m²/cycle 5 kg/m²/cycle 2 kg/m²/cycle 2 kg/m²/cycle Source: Rooftop agriculture training manual, UN habitat

Container width and height

Design ideas and test

1 Scale 1:20

S What crops?

Leafy vegetables Fruit vegetables Root vegetables Allium vegetables Seed vegetables

Yielding capacity?

The potting soil when moisturized can be of weight 800 kg/cu.m The above stacked container raised bed can hold 1.05 cu.m of potting soil, making it 800 kg weight.

Leafy : Spinach, Mustard leaf Fruit : Tomato Root : Raddish Carrot Allium: Garlic Seed

Source: Rooftop agriculture training manual, UN habitat

Design ideas and test

2 Scale 1:20

4 kg/m²/cycle 4 kg/m²/cycle 5 kg/m²/cycle 2 kg/m²/cycle 2 kg/m²/cycle 1 kg/m²/cycle

H

What crops?

Specially leafy vegetables

One Styrofoam tray

Yielding capacity?

Lettuce Radishes Leef Beet Garden beet Baby Leaf lettuce

51.36 kg/m²/y 38.4 kg/m²/y 21.6 kg/m²/y 14.40 kg/m²/y 25.2 kg/m²/y Source: Orsini et al, 2010

Design ideas and test

3

75 litres of water (for 2.4 m x 1.2 m platform)

Scale 1:20

S

What crops?

Seed vegetables

Yielding capacity?

Seed : String beans Cowpeas Peas Broad beans

1 kg/m²/cycle 1 kg/m²/cycle 1 kg/m²/cycle 1 kg/m²/cycle Source: Rooftop agriculture training manual, UN habitat

The potting soil when moisturized can be of weight 800 kg/cu.m The above raised bed can hold 0.22 cu.m of potting soil, making it 176 kg weight.

Design ideas and test

4 Scale 1:20

H

What crops?

Leafy vegetables Plants, herbs Strawberries Also friuit vegetables, but needs support No root vegetables

Yielding capacity?

If only leafy vegetables year round grown, Garden Cress, Swiss chard, Amaranthus

Source: Rooftop Urban Agriculture

20 plants

Design ideas and test

5

Scale 1:20

30.72 kg/y/column

S What crops?

Fruit vegetables Leafy vegetables Flower vegetables

Yielding capacity?

42 pots

Fruit : Okra Capsicum Chillies

0.25 kg/m²/cycle 0.2 kg/m²/cycle 0.1 kg/m²/cycle Source: Rooftop agriculture training manual, UN habitat

Design ideas and test

6 Scale 1:20

S What crops?

Marrow vegetables

Yielding capacity?

Cucumber Bitter Gourd Bottle gourd Sponge Gourd Chayote

1.5 kg/m²/y 2 kg/m²/y 4 kg/m²/y 2 kg/m²/y 6 kg/m²/y Source: Rooftop agriculture training manual, UN habitat

Design ideas and test

7 Scale 1:20

H

What crops?

Specially leafy vegetables No root vegetables No heavy flower vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli

Yielding capacity?

If only leafy vegetables 38.4 kg/m²/y Source: Rooftop Urban Agriculture

25 leafy vegetables/ m²/ month 70- 100 litres tank for small module Source: Rooftop Urban Agriculture

8 Scale 1:20

Design ideas and test

S

H

Traditional railing

Design ideas and test

9 Scale 1:20

S

What crops?

Marrow vegetables

Yielding capacity?

Cucumber Bitter Gourd Bottle gourd Sponge Gourd Chayote

1.5 kg/m²/y 2 kg/m²/y 4 kg/m²/y 2 kg/m²/y 6 kg/m²/y Source: Rooftop agriculture training manual, UN habitat

Design ideas and test

Plants covering pergola

10

Implementation An idea Household and agriculture methods Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C

An idea

co n n

lore + exp

ecting with HOU

identify +i

nteg r

SEH

OLD

ate

IMPLEMENTATION

Rooftop Agricultural system

Soil- based Hydroponics

Design principles, guidelines and tools

Household status and agriculture Agricultural method

Agriculture attribute (Based on advantages and disadvantages)

Household

Single family (4-5 members)

Joint family (6-12 members )

Soil - based

Low food production

Single family

High time consuming

Home stay member

Low technical expertise

Old members

Requires more area

Big rooftop households

Less costly

Low income

Requires more water

Space for underground reservoir

Homestay members in the family

Working members in the family

Old members in the family

Young members in the family

Hydroponics

High food production

Joint family

Less time consuming

Working member

High technical expertise

Young members

Requires less space

Small rooftop households

Costly

High income

Requires less water

No space for underground reservoir

Low income (Unwilling to invest)

High income (Willing to invest)

Big area rooftop

Small area rooftop

Scenario A - Recommendation Joint family - Home stay member - Working - Old member

Design Drivers

SOIL + HYDROPONICS

Scenario B- Recommendation Joint family - Working member - small rooftop

HYDROPONICS

Scenario C- Recommendation Single family - Big rooftop - Space for underground reservoir

SOIL- BASED

Scenario A

Who? Joint family - Home stay member - Working member - Old member

How much?

2 Old

6 Adults

Total: 10 members Vegetable requirement/day (mimimum)

2 x 320 gm : 640gm

6 x 384 gm : 2304gm

*Total vegetable requirement 3.456 kg/day

2 Children 2 x 256 gm : 512gm

1244 kg/year

Where?

Building storey: 4 Rooftop area: 114.8 m² Sunlight status:

What?

Sun- loving vegetables

Shade- loving vegetables

Wind- tolerant vegetables

Peppers Tomatoes Watermelon Okra Eggplant Strawberries

Leafy greens

Lettuce Carrots Greens Dwarf beans

Rain- loving vegetables

Cucumber Gourds Tomato Radish

RECOMMENDATION

SOIL+HYDROPONICS

X Beam line

storage staircase

Hydroponics agriculture

seedling compost entrance area

NFT

vertical

heavy

ce wa nt lk ral wa ax y is

light container

heavy container

cloth liner

Floating

wind tolerant vegetables

heavy container recreation area

Existing activities

gathering area

Beam line

UPPER ROOFTOP

shade tolerant vegetables

al foc nt i po

sense of enclosure NFT (pergola) rain loving climber vegetables

Soil-based agriculture

staircase column moved hydroponics

LOWER ROOFTOP

view towards road NFT

wind tolerant vegetables

Road ahead prevalent wind

Bubble concept recreational gathering area

cloth liner

X 0m

1m

2m

4m

Column hydroponics

NFT hydroponics

floating hydroponics

0m

1m

2m

4m

Section X-X

Design principles View from the entrance

Companion vegetables lettuce

onion

eggplants tomatoes

cabbage raddish

regulating lines

carrots

varying sizes

peach tree

central axis walkway

transitions

focal point

Sense of enclosure (pergola)

Rooftop Garden

Uses

Existing uses New uses

Agriculture method

Soil based Hydroponics

Drip Irrigation Drainage

Drip irrigation Nutrient solution

Rainwater Harvesting runoff slope

Catchment area: 140 sq.m Annual average rainfall: 1610 mm Collection capacity: 180,000 ltrs Underground tank 30,000 ltrs capacity

2/3

of water requirement covered

Food production and greenery Soil

Area cultivated

Leafy vegetables (shade loving) Spinach Mustard leaf Root vegetables Raddish Carrot Seed vegetables String beans Peas Cowpea Fruit vegetables (Sun loving) Tomatoes Allium vegetables Garlic Onion Food production 962 kg/y (77.3 % of required)

Marrow vegetables Chayote Bottle gourd Flower vegetables (wind tolerant - sun loving) Cauliflower Cabbage

Greenery added 63 m² (55 % of rooftop)

Hydroponics (NFT)

Root and leafy vegetables Lettuce Radishes

(Floating)

Fruit vegetables Tomatoes Eggplants

(Column)

Cycle in a year

Production

8.5 m²

4 kg/ m²/cycle

1

34 kg

5 m² 5 m²

5 kg/ m²/cycle 2 kg/ m²/cycle

1 1

25 kg 25 kg

4.5 m²

1 kg/ m²/cycle

2

9 kg

1.5 m²

4 kg/ m²/cycle

1

6 kg

4.5 m²

2 kg/ m²/cycle

1

9 kg

2 m² 2 m²

3 kg/ m²/cycle 3 kg/ m²/cycle

1 1

6 kg 6 kg

3 m²

3 kg/ m²/cycle

1

9 kg

Area cultivated

Leafy vegetables (year round) Garden Cress Swiss Chard Amaranthus

Capacity

Capacity

Cycle in a year

Production

15 m²

38.4 kg/ m²/year

-

576 kg

1.5 m² 1.5 m²

51.6 kg/ m²/cycle 38.4 kg/ m²/cycle

-

78 kg 58 kg

4 columns

30 kg/column/y

-

120 kg

Scenario B

Who? Joint family - Working member - Small rooftop

How much?

Total: 8 members

6 Adults

Vegetable requirement/day (mimimum)

6 x 384 gm : 2304gm

*Total vegetable requirement 2.816 kg/day

2 Children 2 x 256 gm : 512gm

1014 kg/year

Where?

Building storey: 3 Rooftop area: 63 m² Sunlight status:

What?

Less variety of vegetables

Plants and herbs Strawberry, Kale, chard, mustard green, spinach, cabbage, broccolli, basils, mint, chives

Shade -loving vegetables: Leafy greens

12 months growing vegetables: Garden Cress, Swiss Chard, Amaranthus

RECOMMENDATION

HYDROPONICS

Road ahead X NFT on railings

Beam line Hydroponics agriculture

viewing

Beam line

storage column hydroponics

floating hydroponics

column hydroponics NFT on railings

stairase

entrance

LOWER ROOFTOP

NFT on wall

seedlings

floating hydroponics

NFT on railing

NFT on railings

exercise area

Bubble concept Cloth liner

NFT on wall

UPPER ROOFTOP

X

0m

1m

2m

4m

NFT on railing

column hydroponics

NFT on wall

0m

1m

2m

4m

Section X-X

Food production and greenery

Hydroponics Food production 709 kg/y (70 % of required)

Leafy vegetables (year round) Garden Cress Swiss Chard Amaranthus

Area cultivated (NFT)

Leafy vegetables (Floating) Lettuce Radishes (small root vegetable) Leef garden beet Greenery added 21 m² (31 % of rooftop)

Flower vegetables Cabbage Broccolli

(Column)

Capacity

Cycle in a year

Production

14.5 m²

38.4 kg/ m²/y

-

557 kg

1 m² 1 m² 1 m²

51.6 kg/ m²/y 38.4 kg/ m²/y 14.4 kg/ m²/y

-

51.6 kg 38.4 kg 14.4 kg

1 column 1 column

23 kg/column/y 25 kg/column/y

-

23 kg 25 kg

Plants and herbs (Column) Strawberry, Kale, chard, mustard green, spinach, cabbage, broccolli, basils, mint, chives Fruit vegetables (needs support) (Column) Tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, chilli peppers, squashes, cucumber

Scenario C

Who? Single family - Big Rooftop - Space for underground reservoir

How much?

Total: 3 members

2 Adults

1 Children

Vegetable requirement/day (mimimum)

2 x 384 gm : 768 gm

1 x 256 gm : 256 gm

*Total vegetable requirement 1.024 kg/day

368.64 kg/year

Where?

Building storey: 2 Rooftop area: 109 m² Sunlight status:

What?

Sun- loving vegetables

Shade- loving vegetables

Wind- tolerant vegetables

Peppers Tomatoes Watermelon Okra Eggplant

Leafy greens

Lettuce Carrots Greens Dwarf beans

Rain- loving vegetables Cucumber Gourds Tomato Radish

RECOMMENDATION

SOIL

Road ahead X pergola covered by climbing vegetables

Beam line

storage

Soil-based agriculture Existing activities

gathering area

light container

Beam line

shade vegetables

gathering area

heavy container

seedlings

stair light container heavy container

vertical exercise area

light container

light container

cloth liner

sun loving vegetables

wind tolerantsun loving vegetables

vertical

compost

LOWER ROOFTOP cloth liner

Bubble concept

exercise area

cloth liner

X 0m

1m

2m

4m

Vertical agriculture

pot on railing

0m

1m

2m

4m

Section X-X

Food production and greenery

Soil

Leafy vegetables (shade loving) Spinach Mustard leaf

Food production 208 kg/y (57 % of required)

60 m² (55 % of rooftop)

Capacity

Cycle in a year

Production

20 m²

4 kg/ m²/cycle

1

80 kg

3 m² 3 m²

5 kg/ m²/cycle 2 kg/ m²/cycle

1 1

15 kg 6 kg

12 m²

1 kg/ m²/cycle

2

24 kg

10 m² 5 m²

4 kg/ m²/cycle 0.2 kg/ m²/cycle

1 1

40 kg 1 kg

Marrow vegetables Chayote Bottle gourd Cucumber

2 m² 2 m² 2 m²

6 kg/ m²/cycle 4 kg/ m²/cycle 2 kg/ m²/cycle

1 1 1

12 kg 8 kg 4 kg

Flower vegetables (sun loving) Cauliflower Cabbage

3 m² 3 m²

3 kg/ m²/cycle 3 kg/ m²/cycle

1 1

9 kg 9 kg

Root vegetables Raddish Carrot Seed vegetables String beans Peas Cowpea Fruit vegetables (Sun loving) Tomatoes Okra Capsicum Chillies

Greenery added

Area cultivated

Sustainable thinking Climate and Rainwater harvesting Drip irrigation Growing media (Soil- based and Hydroponics)

Climate and Rainwater harvesting Summer, monsoon and winter are three seasons Kathmandu experiences just like other parts of the country.

Summer starts in late April and starts monsoon in mid-June which lasts till mid- September. Winter season takes place at the end of November and lasts until March.

The annual mean precipitation is recorded to be 1610 mm, of which about 75 % falls in monsoon. The mean temperature is 28º C- 30º C in summer. In winter, it can drop below freezing point.

Snowfall occurs in the outskirt hills occassionally of the valley but not in the city.

35 °C

390mm

30 °C

325mm

25°C

260mm

20 °C

195mm

15 °C

130mm

10 °C

65mm J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Average rainfall and temperature (Kathmandu)

Drip irrigation layout

Rainwater harvesting is composed of a system: 1 the supply (rainfall) 2 the rainfall catchment (precipitation and conveyance pipes) 3 storage 4 the irrigation/ distribution system

Overhead storage

Once storage capacity exceeds, the excess rainwater can be channeled into grey water system.

runoff slope

Rainwater is preferable over greywater/ recycled water because of its quality of having less contaminants.

In Kathmandu, the rooftop having catchment area of 140 m² has the capacity to store as much as 180,000 ltrs of rainwater annually.

rainwater

Rainwater storage (underground) 30,000 ltrs capacity

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation system helps in saving water and fertilizer since it allows water to drip slowly to the roots of crops.

Sample of a drip irrigation system layout for rooftop agriculture

Irrigation system should incorporate design process comprising set of technical specifications to ensure optimum performance.

1 water supply and pumping needs 2 system capacity (flow rate) 3 irrigation system layout and characteristics A proper layout can balance the agro- environmental and economic parameters.

A container garden requires 100 ltrs/ m²/ month of water in summer.

Growing media Potting soil and compost (Soil-based)

Nutrient solution (Hydroponics)

Potting soil is prepared by mixing vermiculite, perlite, peat moss and compost that allows good water retention, good drainage, light weight. Chemical fertilizers aren’t used in the mixing.

Nutrient solution is prepared by dissolving and mixing one or more soluble fertilizers in the water and it is delivered to the plants with the irrigation system.

Compost is prepared by decomposing organic waste which is used as fertilizer for the crops. Degradable kitchen waste is a stored for composting, which also helps in managing the urban waste. 50 % compost mix in the potting soil is good for the plants.

The essential elements for plant growth and development in a hydroponic system consists: 1 non- mineral elements, plants get from air and water (C carbon, H hydrogen and O oxygen) 2 mineral elements plants get from nutrient solution ( N nitrogen, P phosphorus, K potassium, Ca calcium, Mg magnesium, B boron, Zn zinc, Mn manganese, Cu copper, Ni nickel) The ratio important in nutrient solution is the ratio of (K: Ca: Mg) which should be 1: 0.5: 0.25.

The ratio of nutrient solution to water should be 1:50 to 1: 250.

Kitchen waste

Homemade composting

Envisioning the vision Visualisation How to make this happen?

The multifunctional benefits The conclusion

Visualisation

In this 300m x 200 m block, If 50 % of total rooftop space area (22,064 m²) is converted to rooftop urban agriculture, the space covered by greenery will be 11,032 m². (Little over 1 Hectare)

Added Greenery Local Food Production Improved Air quality

How to make this happen?

We want rooftop garden and like gardening

We want rooftop garden but don’t like gardening

Government Designers

Employment

People

People

Farmers (marginalised people)

Engineers

Technicians

Garden setup

Stakeholders

a framework

NGOs/INGOs

Have professionals do it 1 improved aesthetic value 2 food productivity calculation 3 also hydroponics

Do it yourself (Informal) 1 less aesthetic value 2 no food productivity calculation 3 soil- based method only

Training centres on agriculture and garden maintenance

Government Funds: e.g. Interest free loan

* Those households who doesn’t want rooftop garden can have the option to rent the space for the farmers to grow vegetables and let them earn.

The multifunctional benefits social (bring people together, sense of community, education, healthy food) environmental (added greenery, improved air quality, UHI effect reduction) economic (employment to farmers, trainers, professionals)

The conclusion Hydroponics method is perfect method for urban agriculture specially in a country like Nepal, along with soil- based since these methods can be assembled with locally available materials, is light weight, uses less water and less costly compared to other green roof system. Hydroponics seem to work out well in a seismic sensitive and developing region like Nepal.

Combating complex urban problems and issues for a country like Nepal can be a rigorous assignment.

Something holistic solution like urban agriculture through everyone’s participation and engagement is a way to tackle with these complex problems and issues.

The model explored, tested and designed on this project can be expanded out to other areas and other cities as well so as to yield out maximum multifunctional benefits of urban agriculture to community, health, environment and local economy.

References

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FloridaCollege of Design, Construction and Planning, <https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00016067/00001> Tuladhar A 2019, Roof-top Gardening in Urban Limited Spaces-Kathmandu’s context, International Young Scientist’s Conference 2019, October 21-23, Kathmandu, Nepal, <https://www.academia.edu/40742082/Roof_top_Gardening_in_Urban_ Limited_Spaces_Kathmandu_s_context> Thapa S, Bhandari R, Rai N 2020, Rooftop Gardening as A Need for Sustainable Urban Farming: A case of Kathmandu, Nepal, <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342476887_Rooftop_Gardening_as_A_Need_for_Sustainable_Urban_Farming_A_ case_of_Kathmandu_Nepal> Hegazy A, Attia S 2009, Green Roofs in Cairo: A Holistic Approach for Healthy Productive Cities, 7th Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities,2009, Atlanta, USA, <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269873380_Green_ Roofs_in_Cairo_A_Holistic_Approach_for_Healthy_Productive_Cities> Mitchell M, Iglesias A 2019, Urban agriculture in Kathmandu as a catalyst for the civic inclusion of migrants and the making of a greener city, CASS School of Art, Architecture and Design, London Metropolitan University, UK, <https://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S2095263519300615> Safayet M, Arefin M, Hasan M 2018, Present practice and future prospect of rooftop farming in Dhaka city: A step towards urban sustainability, Journal of Urban Management · January 2018, <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322247058_ Present_practice_and_future_prospect_of_rooftop_farming_in_Dhaka_city_A_step_towards_urban_sustainability>

Photo: Shrestha Photo:Rajkumar Kathmandu Post