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India: Optimising Urban Agriculture: A Pathway to Food Security in India

As the primary food consumption centres, cities have an ethical responsibility to contribute to food production so that hunger and malnutrition can be prevented.

By Ramanath Jha
Attribution: Ramanath Jha, “Optimising Urban Agriculture: A Pathway to Food Security in India,” ORF Issue Brief No. 590, November 2022, Observer Research Foundation.

Excerpt:

Introduction

Urban agriculture refers to agricultural practices in urban and peri-urban areas.[1] Peri-urban areas are those transitioning from rural land uses (such as for agriculture or livestock production) to urban ones (such as the built environment, manufacturing, services, and utilities), and are located between the outer limits of urban and regional centres and the rural environment.[2] Urban agricultural practices are geared towards cultivating or growing a wide range of food and non-food products, and include activities such as rearing livestock, aquaculture, beekeeping, and commercial-scale floriculture.[3],[4] However, despite the variety of agricultural activities attempted under urban agriculture, it is unlikely to include the cultivation of staple foods due to the complexities involved (such as soil management, irrigation, transplantation, mechanisation, and harvesting) and the vast land space required. Food products that can be cultivated through urban agriculture will predominantly be those that contribute micronutrients,[5] such as fruits, vegetables, dark leafy greens, fish, and legumes. These are compounds that are needed in minimal quantities and aid in the human body’s growth, development, and maintenance.[6] Urban agriculture comprises various livelihood systems, from subsistence production at the household level to more commercialised agriculture.[7] This is one of its main attributes, as it can be adapted to a wide range of urban situations and to the needs of diverse stakeholders.

Urban agriculture is increasingly being adopted in cities worldwide[8] by urban local bodies (ULBs), entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, community groups, and citizens.[9] Indeed, as per the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization, urban and peri-urban agriculture have a significant role in global food and nutritional security, and so it is seeking to encourage such activities through the Urban Food Agenda.[10] The Urban Food Agenda comprises policies, programmes, and initiatives developed and implemented in partnership with civil society, academia, international agencies, city entities, and the private sector.[11] In recent years, urban and peri-urban areas worldwide are estimated to have produced between 5 percent to 10 percent of legumes, vegetables, and tubers, and between 15 percent to 20 percent of all food.[12]

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