In the Middle Badda area of Dhaka, Asma Kadir has turned the rooftop of a six-storey building into a vibrant urban orchard called “Shobuj Chaya.” What started in 2010 with just a few mango varieties has now expanded into a rich collection of 26 types of mango trees. Together with her husband, she has built a fully green canopy that produces around 200–240 kg of mangoes each year, making it one of the city’s standout rooftop farming success stories.
The garden features both local favourites and rare international varieties, including the prized Japanese Miyazaki mango. This season, a single Chiemai tree produced nearly two maunds of fruit, while the total rooftop harvest reached about 5–6 maunds. Although some fruits are lost to heavy yields and birds freely feeding on the trees, Asma Kadir continues to maintain the garden organically without protective netting, embracing a natural balance. She also inspires aspiring gardeners by sharing practical tips on growing both local and year-round mango varieties on rooftops.
