Urban agri centre to train people in wholesome harvesting

SURAT: Urban Health and Climate Resilience Centre (UHCRC) will set up an urban agriculture cell and a food craft centre in the city in the next few months to check environmental degradation and bring about improvement in the quality of life of the people. It will also work to motivate sakhi mandals and other women organizations to meet its objectives.
UHCRC technical director Vikas Desai told TOI, "Impure air, polluted water and lack of nutritious food are the reasons for health problems among a majority of people, particularly those belonging to lower strata of society. The urban agriculture cell and food craft centre would help people get nutritious vegetables and fruits."
Kitchen garden is not a new concept, but for many it begins and ends as a hobby. Urban agriculture cell can help transform the city to become a carbon-free urban area. Urban farming can help improve the air in urban areas when done in places dominated by lower strata of the society.
UHCRC will adopt a consultative and advisory approach with the help of agriculture department of Gujarat government. It plans to assist sakhi mandals in acquiring machines for the preservation of agro items. The women of sakhi mandals would be taught agro processing.
Ami Yagnik, an active member of women's wing of South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), said, "The urban agriculture cell and food craft centre are the need of the hour. We need pure vegetables and fruits. If we can grow them in our small premises, it would go a long way in improving the health of the people."