Urban Farming

Why in News?

• A Non-Profit Research Organisation has recently prepared a “Draft Citizen’s Policy for Urban Agriculture in Delhi”, recommending a holistic framework for Urban Farming.

Highlights

• Urban farming refers to the practice of growing crops, raising livestock, or producing other forms of food within urban areas.
• Despite its potential benefits, such as increased access to fresh and healthy food, environmental sustainability, and economic development, urban farming faces several challenges that limit its widespread adoption and impact.
• The Draft recommends building on existing practices, promoting residential and community farming through rooftop and kitchen gardens, allocating vacant land for agricultural use, creating a market, developing policies for animal rearing and spreading awareness.
• One of the biggest challenges facing urban farming is the limited availability of suitable land within urban areas.
• Urban land is often expensive and highly coveted for other uses, making it difficult for farmers to secure the space they need to grow food.
• One of the biggest challenges facing urban farming is the limited availability of suitable land within urban areas.
• Urban land is often expensive and highly coveted for other uses, making it difficult for farmers to secure the space they need to grow food.
• To promote urban farming, governments must recognise informal practices and link them with agricultural schemes.
• There is a need to make urban agriculture viable. Farming in cramped urban spaces marred by water scarcity and pollution is not easy.
• A 2016 paper titled Future of Urban Agriculture in India by the Hyderabad-based Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy mentions that in Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Chennai, wastewater is directly or indirectly used for urban farming.
• Studies show that excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in urban farms can lower produce and soil quality. However, urban farmers believe such hurdles can be overcome with innovative techniques.
• Urban farming has the potential to play a major role in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing cities today, including food insecurity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. However, to truly realize its potential, it is essential to overcome the challenges and create an environment that supports and nurtures urban farming initiatives.