Chalakudy municipality in Kerala’s Thrissur district has launched a pioneering rooftop farming initiative, turning nearly 100 homes and public spaces into productive vegetable gardens.

Supported by Kudumbashree and 440 neighbourhood collectives, the project has distributed over 2,000 grow bags and saplings with just ₹1.85 lakh in funding. The movement is strengthening food security, empowering residents, and setting a new standard for sustainable urban living.

Rooftops and Public Spaces Bloom with Community Spirit

Across Chalakudy’s 36 wards, terraces are now lush with bitter gourd, snake gourd, green chillies, tomatoes, and more. The initiative, titled ‘Let’s collectively set up vegetable gardens,’ is a collaborative effort under the Chalanam membership campaign, implemented through Kudumbashree’s extensive network of neighbourhood groups.

Over 2,000 grow bags filled with enriched soil and vegetable saplings have been distributed to households, enabling even those without traditional land access to participate. The rejuvenated Vijayaraghavapuram Kasthurba Centre, once a neglected public space, now thrives as a model community garden, maintained by SDS committee members and local volunteers.

Leadership, Founders, and the Power of Collective Action

The rooftop farming drive was formally inaugurated in Ward 33 by Municipal Chairman Shibu Valappan, who planted the first saplings and set the tone for civic participation.

The event saw active involvement from CDS vice chairperson Jomol Babu, governance committee member Sindhu Jayaraj, Upajeevanam sub-committee convenor Sanu Joji, and Kudumbashree mentor Rasiya Mambatt. Kudumbashree, Kerala’s celebrated poverty eradication and women’s empowerment mission, has played a foundational role in designing and rolling out the project, leveraging its grassroots presence and expertise in community mobilisation.

The Chalanam membership programme, running for six months, aims to make Chalakudy’s urban CDS a centre of excellence for participatory, sustainable development.

Sustainable Change with Minimal Resources

Despite a modest budget of just ₹1.85 lakh, the initiative has achieved remarkable results by maximising community participation and resource sharing. The project demonstrates how collective action and local leadership can drive sustainable change, even in urban settings with limited space.

The model has already inspired interest from neighbouring municipalities and is being closely watched by urban planners and environmentalists as a replicable solution for food security and climate resilience.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At The Logical Indian, we celebrate Chalakudy’s rooftop farming initiative as a beacon of grassroots empowerment and sustainable living. By uniting communities around the common goal of growing their own food, this movement fosters dignity, self-reliance, and a renewed sense of belonging.

It proves that with vision, collaboration, and a willingness to innovate, even small investments can yield big results for food security, urban greening, and social harmony.