STUDY ON THE STATUS OF ROOF TOP GARDENING IN SELECTED RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF DHAKA CITY, BANGLADESH

The rapid increment of low and middle-income consumers is exerting pressure on the food supply in urban areas. The objective of the study was to identify the present status of rooftop gardening. The study was conducted in the 4 selected residential areas of Dhaka city through plot to plot interview by using questionnaire. Land use nature is divided into four categories like residential, commercial, educational and mixed. Field survey was conducted on 1376 buildings in Dhanmondi, 391 buildings in Lalmatia, 272 buildings in Mohakhali Defense Officers Housing Society (DOHS) and 697 buildings in Uttara 13 no. Sector. Study found that, 39.1%, 59.2%, 36.6 % and 22.2% buildings have rooftop gardening in those selected locations respectively. The study reveals that, nearly one-third of the buildings (36.4%) contain rooftop gardening which basically depends on the aesthetic sense and moral values of individuals. Government should appreciate initiatives and consider proper planning policy to motivate citizen of the urban areas for planting fruit plants and vegetable in their roof. RTG system may also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The proposed study identifies the need for long-term policy measures for rooftop gardening that can become the basis for a sustainable approach for urban agriculture.