Mangalore: Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr KN Vijayaprakash has expressed his concern over the declining agricultural and horticultural fields in the district.

Speaking after inaugurating a one day workshop on Terrace Gardening organized by the Department of Horticulture, District Administration and Siri Thotagarika Sangha at the Bal Bhavan in Mangalore on May 16, Wednesday he said 500 schools in the district would be encouraged to maintain gardens with the help of donors and added that five parks for special children would be set up in taluk centers of the district.

Emphasizing the need to encourage terrace gardening, he said terrace gardening will go a long way in reviving the interest of the public in gardening and allied activities.

Dr S Nanda, Deputy Director of the Department of Horticulture, Lakshmi Rao, Vice-President of Siri Totagaarika Sangha, Rajendra Hegde, resource person and others were present on the occasion.