APD garden fair rolls out a treat for plant lovers in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The Association of People with Disabilities (APD) kicked off its annual 10-day garden fair and orchid mela on Friday, showcasing a wide range of ornamental plants, indoor plants, cacti, palms, fruit plants, medicinal herbs, and vibrant orchid varieties.

The gardens are maintained by people with disabilities trained by APD. Visitors can attend workshops on kitchen, herb, and terrace gardening, and explore stalls offering garden tools, seeds, saplings, and eco-friendly products such as coco peat and manure.

Ganesh Hegde, Director of Environment and Horticulture at APD, explained about the organisation’s Horticulture Training Programme designed for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. “This training complements therapy, aiding physical and mental health recovery. We are actively mobilising trainees from villages around Bijapur, Davanagere, and Chikkaballapur,” he said.

The fair, which runs until December 22, drew gardening enthusiasts on its opening day, many flocking to admire and purchase orchids.

One loyal visitor is Ilse N Shenoy, an 81-year-old German who has lived in Bengaluru since 2001. “I have been visiting this fair every year because of the quality and variety of plants and the dedication of the people who nurture them despite their disabilities,” she said.

Jecintha, a teacher and regular attendee, was on the lookout for strawberry plants and herbs for her terrace and kitchen garden. “I never miss this fair — it’s a highlight of my gardening year,” she said.

The Horticulture Training Programme, which spans three months, equips individuals with skills in landscaping, floriculture, tissue culture, and garden management.

“Trained youth are placed in organisations as garden specialists and supervisors,” said Lakshman Reddy, a 38-year-old gardener with a disability. Hegde added that APD has trained over 4,500 youth from both rural and urban Karnataka in horticulture techniques.

“This programme has become a market-friendly livelihood initiative, achieving an 80% placement rate,” he said. The fair also features workshops to encourage and educate gardening enthusiasts.