Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 29: Making the best use of the lockdown period, people have shown keen interest in agricultural activities. In many instances, it is witnessed that people are inclined towards agriculture as many are seen growing varieties of vegetables and fruits at their residences. Even though many do not possess land, people have come out with innovative ideas of growing various plants on their terrace.

Krishna Govind, hailing from Kodical, has grown varieties of vegetables and fruits in his residence surroundings as well as on the terrace of his building. Krishna was running a central air-conditioner business at Gujarat. Even there, he was actively involved in gardening at his home. It has been three years since he is settled in Mangaluru and he continues doing small scale gardening at the little space he has.

Speaking to Daijiworld.com, Krishna said, "We do not have land attached to our house. I was attracted towards gardening and hence came up with the idea to grow different types of vegetables and fruits in the small space around my house. Until now, I have grown about 300 plants such as jamun, banana, mangoes, grapes, ginger, long beans, flowers, pepper, and drum stick and also some medicinal plants.”

To grow the plants, he makes fertilizers out of vegetable wastes and cow dung. "There is no need to spend money for fertilizers or purchasing them as I make fertilizers at home using vegetable wastes or collect cow dung. I have not grown any of these plants in open space. All are grown using pots, coconut shells, bamboo, pipes, plastic bottles, paint boxes and so on."

His simple garden attracts birds and butterflies which he says adds grace to his garden. "Some people have taken medicinal leaves from our gardening during this time of coronavirus pandemic. One of the main attractions is that more birds build nests and fleets of birds and varieties of butterflies keep coming here due to the greenery at my house. I urge people to make best use of this lockdown by growing plants," said Krishna Govind.