Idukki: PN Sheeja of Edattu Muttath in Moolamattom has emerged as a model for terrace farming by successfully cultivating a wide range of vegetables on the rooftop of her house. Her terrace garden now yields ginger, turmeric, tomato, green chilli, brinjal, okra, green spinach, red spinach, beans and several other crops. Sheeja is a former ward member of the Edattu Muttath panchayat.

She began terrace cultivation on a modest scale two years ago, using grow bags supplied by the Krishi Bhavan. With the assistance of her son, MS Advait, a student, the initiative was gradually expanded. Advait later won the panchayat-level Best Child Farmer award for his contribution to the venture.

Drawing from two years of hands-on experience, Sheeja is now preparing to scale up cultivation further by increasing the use of grow bags.

Alongside vegetable farming, she has also taken up poultry farming, rearing native hens with the aim of supplying quality local eggs to residents. Her husband, Suresh, and son, Abhinand, have been actively supporting all her farming initiatives.