News Highlight
Cultivated idea: Urban farming in India requires holistic policy support.
Key Takeaway
- In September 2022, the Delhi government received the “Draft Citizen’s Policy for Urban Agriculture in Delhi,” which aims to offer a comprehensive framework for urban farming.
- Approximately 60% of Delhi’s meat need is met by city-grown food, as are 25% of its milk and 15% of its vegetable demands.
- However, land use and farming rules in the National Capital do not recognise the function of food cultivation and distribution in urban areas.
Urban Farming
- About
- The practice of growing crops, raising cattle, or generating other types of food within urban environments is known as urban farming.
- Despite the potential benefits of improved access to fresh and healthy food, environmental sustainability, and economic development, urban farming confronts several obstacles that limit its widespread adoption and impact.
Benefits of Urban Farming
- Business Growth
- Through employment creation, revenue generation, and the expansion of small enterprises, urban farming stimulates the local economy.
- Urban Redevelopment
- Firstly, unused lands and wastelands can be utilised for agriculture.
- It increases green space and decreases pollution.
- Furthermore, property values rise in areas with communal gardens and urban farms.
- Health and Wellness
- Urban farming produces fresh products closer to where they will be consumed.
- In addition, well-grown in urban farms is more likely to be perfectly ripe, more nutritious, and grown in season.
- Less Food Waste
- People only generate what they require.
- This significantly lowers food waste.
- Water Conservation
- They can consume less water by using methods such as hydroponics and aquaponics.
- Low Investment
- Firstly, urban farming necessitates less space and lower initial infrastructure and setup costs.
- When compared to traditional farming, the installation cost is relatively inexpensive.
Challenges in Urban Farming
- Soil Contamination
- Heavy metals, pollution, and other hazardous compounds are frequently found in urban soils, making it difficult to cultivate crops safely and sustainably.
- Water Availability
- Water is a rare resource in many metropolitan areas, and farmers frequently need help to get enough water to meet the needs of their crops and cattle.
- Lack of Infrastructure
- Firstly, greenhouses, irrigation systems, and cooling and storage facilities are frequently required for urban farming.
- In addition, it might be costly and difficult to obtain in metropolitan settings.
Draft Citizen’s Policy for Urban Agriculture in Delhi
- Recommendations in the Draft
- Through rooftop and kitchen gardens, we are promoting residential and community farming.
- Making unoccupied land available for agricultural use.
- Additionally, creating a market.
- Creating animal-rearing policies and raising awareness.
- Significance
- Food scarcity is becoming more likely due to rapid urbanisation, population growth, and climate change.
- According to the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (2010 research), 50% of women and children in cities are anaemic due to a lack of proper nutrition.
- The UN FAO acknowledged in 2020 that urban and peri-urban farming could help meet local food and nutritional needs, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
Steps were taken in India to promote urban agriculture
- Firstly, Pune’s civic authority established a city farming project in 2008 to train and encourage residents to grow on allotted land.
- Kerala’s government initiated a vegetable development programme in 2012 to promote gardening in homes, schools, and government and commercial institutions.
- It also offered incentives and help for eco-friendly inputs, irrigation, compost and biogas facilities.
- Under its Urban Horticulture Development Scheme, the Tamil Nadu government introduced a “do-it-yourself” kit for city inhabitants to grow vegetables on rooftops, residences, and apartment complexes in 2014.
- Furthermore, Bihar has supported terrace gardening in five smart cities through input cost subsidies from 2021.
Way Forward
- Firstly, the key to promoting urban farming is integrating all efforts.
- It is necessary to make urban agriculture feasible.
- In addition, farming in urban areas is difficult due to water constraints and pollution.
- Water scarcity and pollution can be addressed by using wastewater.
- Innovative techniques, such as hydroponics, can be encouraged further.
- Hydroponics is a soilless agricultural process that employs nutrient solutions to keep plants alive.
- Furthermre, hydroponics uses 90% less water than industrial growing and may be reused. More plants can be grown in the available space.
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu