Zhejiang farmer's rooftop plants achieve harvest

A farmer in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, is enjoying an unusually large harvest by planting crops “up in the air”, according to photo agency Imagine China on Nov 18.

Peng Qiugen, a Shaoxing native, turned the 120-square-meter rooftop of his house into a garden a couple of years ago. Since then, “the sky farm” has boasted a high yield every year, producing at least 30 percent higher yield than expected on land.

In 2012, a total of 400 kilograms of watermelons were grown. This year, even with the typhoon, the land is sufficient to feed an adult for a whole year.

Rooftop gardens are compact, and because of the composition of the soil there is less water and soil erosion, Peng believes. But agricultural experts warn that professional evaluation should be given on the bearing capacity of rooftops before cultivating on top of houses.