1PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
2Professor, Agricultural Extension, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
3Director, Directorate of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
4Professor, Agricultural Extension, Directorate of Research, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
5Director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
6Professor and Head, Department of Forest Products and Wildlife, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India
7Associate Professor, Physical Sciences and Information Technology, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu, renowned for its lush greenery, has seen rapid population growth and unchecked development in recent times, leading to a decline in urban green spaces and increased environmental concerns. To address this, rooftop gardening has been proposed as a sustainable and cost-effective solution. This study aimed to evaluate the perception and attitude towards rooftop gardens among urban residents of Coimbatore district. A descriptive quantitative study was conducted, in which sampling of 80 respondents was done through systematic sampling method with a pre tested well - structured interview schedule. Data analysis involved SPSS and MS Excel, focusing on descriptive statistics. Results showed that the majority of respondents (85%) had favourable attitudes towards rooftop gardening, while a very few had an unfavourable attitude (3.3%). In terms of perceptions, three-quarters (75%) had positive views, and in terms of overall negative perception (54%) showing negative views. However, half of the respondents (54%) on overall perceptions still held negative views towards rooftop gardening. Thus, effective policy interventions and collaborative efforts involving government and municipal authorities are necessary to promote the acceptance of rooftop gardens among urban residents.
Rooftop gardening, Urban residents, Coimbatore district, Attitude, Perception
