“We are setting up the garden with the twin objective of helping children learn about flowers which they read only in books and create awareness about nature. In future, this knowledge will help them better understand the nature and career opportunities in floriculture,” said Professor SK Barik, Director, NBRI, Lucknow.
NBRI is implementing this program in eight schools in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Other CSIR institutes like IIIM, Jammu, IHBT, Palampur and NEIST, Jorhat, are overseeing this program in other states. In Odisha, the program has been started at Sainik School, Bhubaneswar and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Koraput, the process of which started in October last year. Projects are also being implemented in KV, Aliganj, Lucknow, KV, Refinery Nagar, Mathura, KV Gomtinagar, Lucknow, Arogyadham Deen Dayal Anusandhan Sansthan, Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, Chandrabhanu Gupta Agricultural College, Lucknow, Police Modern School, Moradabad, North Used to be. State. Out of 600 cadets of Sainik School, the garden is being looked after by children who have taken up gardening as a hobby. “Both parents and children are appreciating this program as it is an innovative way to learn about flowers. Apart from this, it also enhances the beauty of the school campus,” said Commander Preetika Sharma, Administrative Officer, Sainik School
CSIR institutes are selecting government schools interested in developing gardens on their campus with a long-term sustainability plan, providing technical support for the program, while the gardens will be maintained by the schools. Around 50 to 100 square meters of land is required for the project but the size may vary depending on their adaptability. Flowering varieties that can survive the local climate and soil conditions are being planted. Chandrashekhar Mohanty, program in-charge and principal scientist of Odisha said that in Odisha, we are planting mostly saplings like roses, lantana and ixoras.