The Uttar Pradesh Government is implementing the Rooftop Gardening Scheme to promote urban horticulture in cities.
For example, in Gautam Buddh Nagar, the Horticulture Department announced distribution of 400 free rooftop gardening kits in 2026–27. Applicants were required to have at least 100 square feet of rooftop space, with allotment on a first-come, first-served basis. The exact number of beneficiaries, selection procedure and kit components can vary according to the district-level implementation and annual targets announced by the Horticulture Department.
The scheme is primarily designed for urban residents with suitable rooftop space.
The government has also envisaged training and technical guidance so that beneficiaries can learn how to prepare containers or grow bags, select suitable crops, manage irrigation, use organic inputs and maintain plants on rooftops. The initiative is therefore part of a broader effort to take horticulture beyond conventional farmland and introduce small-scale, technology-supported cultivation into urban households. LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Government’s Rooftop Gardening Scheme is an urban horticulture initiative aimed at encouraging people living in cities to use unused rooftop space for growing fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices and medicinal plants. The scheme seeks to bring small-scale food production closer to households while increasing greenery in urban areas. The initiative was initially planned as a pilot in major cities including Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur, with technical support from the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi. The programme has subsequently been taken up in other urban areas as well. Rooftop gardening can also make productive use of otherwise unused urban space. The UP Government’s MSME portal describes rooftop farming as a way of growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers through methods including container gardening and other modern systems. The scheme is not limited to distribution of gardening material.
The earlier pilot proposal specifically envisaged technical support from IIVR, Varanasi.