WB to encourage entrepreneurs for rooftop farming: Minister

West Bengal Technical Education Minister Purnendu Bose today said the state government would encourage entrepreneurs to undertake agricultural farming on rooftops, as part of its policy to encourage green start-ups.
Bose, who was speaking at the open session of the 18th annual general meeting of the Enterprise Development Institute (EDI) here, said rooftop farming could be a great revenue generator for young entrepreneurs.
"In places like New Town, we have already started the project but we need people to come forward. This won't occupy much space and be eco-friendly. Those having skills in farming and wanting to set up new units can opt for this venture," he said at the Bengal National Chambers of Commerce and Industries here.

"We talk about green cities and which better way than encourage such rooftop farming ventures, which can be one way to realise the green city concept," Bose, the minister in charge of technical education, training and skill development, said.
Bose also talked about making the jute industry viable by adapting to new technologies, which will help in countering the challenges posed by countries like China.
"To make the jute sector viable, we need to make it switch-over from the old technologies to modern ones and impart necessary skill to the workers. We have been telling the jute mills' body about this for quite some time," he said.

To a question, Bose said the state government felt the need to make the course curriculum of old ITIs (industrial training institutes) on par with modern skilled training.

"The state government had recently started 100 ITIs and 500 'Advanced Vocational Education and Training Centres' under public-private-partnership model," he added.
EDI Chairman Sandip Sen said the institute has been working with some agencies of West Bengal government for conducting skill training. "We are also planning to work under the 'Utkarsh Bangla' project of the state government."
'Utkarsh Bangla' is a welfare scheme for school drop-outs.