Urban Agriculture 2003

7/31/2019 Urban Agriculture 2003

1/8

FEASIBILITY OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

S.Anbarasan

Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering

Prathyusha Institute of Technology and Management

Thiruvallur Dist, [email protected] , 9894778374

ABSTRACT

The rapid urbanization that is taking place goes

together with a rapid increase in urban poverty and

urban food insecurity. By 2020 the developing

countries of Asia, and to eight of the anticipated nine

mega-cities with populations in excess of 20 million. Itis expected that by 2020, 40-45% of the poor in Asia

will be concentrated in towns and cities. Most cities in

developing countries have great difficulties to cope

with this development and are unable to create

sufficient formal employment opportunities for the

poor. They also have increasing problems with the

disposal of urban wastes and waste water and

maintaining air and river water quality. Urban

agriculture plays an important role in enhancing

urban food security since the costs of supplying and

distributing food to urban areas based on rural

production and imports continue to increase, and donot satisfy the demand, especially of the poorer

sectors of the population. Urban agriculture is part of

the urban ecological system and can play an

important role in the urban environmental

management system.A growing city will produce more

and more wastewater and organic wastes. For most

cities the disposal of wastes has become a serious

problem. Urban agriculture can help to solve such

problems by turning urban wastes into a productive

resource. Urban agriculture may also positively

impact upon the greening and cleaning of the city byturning derelict open spaces into green zones and

maintaining buffer and reserve zones free of housing,

with positive impacts on the micro-climate.

Keywords: Urbanisation, Employment, Greening,

production, Management

1. INTRODUCTION

Urban agriculture is an industry located within (intra-

urban) or on the fringe (peri-urban) of a town, a city

or a metropolis, which grows and raises, processes

and distributes a diversity of food and non-food

products, (re-)using largely human and material

resources, products and services found in and around

that urban area, and in turn supplying human andmaterial resources, products and services largely to

that urban area.

Urban agriculture, particularly urban food

production, has been increasingly important

worldwide since the 1970s. With an estimated 800

million producers in the early 1990s, urban food

production could increase its share of vegetables,

meat, fish and dairy consumed in cities from 33 to 50

percent over the next decade. These forecasts are

already confirmed in several large cities of Asia and

Southeast Asia, Oceania, Eastern and WesternEurope, North America, sub-Saharan Africa, the

Middle-East and South America and the Caribbean.

Urban agriculture, particularly the production of food

inside and around cities, can contribute to urban food

security, income savings and generation, employment

and enterprise development, productive utilization of

idle space and use of urban wastes, and

environmental enhancement.

2. MULTIPLE ROLE OF UA

Attention to urban agriculture is steadily increasing.

Research undertaken in the last two decades indicates

that urban agriculture has multiple roles and

functions and plays an important role in:

enhancing urban food security, nutrition

and health;
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/8

creating urban job opportunities and

generation of income especially for

urban poverty groups and provision of a

social safety net for these groups;

contributing to increased recycling of

nutrients (turning urban organic wastes

into a resource);

facilitating social inclusion of

disadvantaged groups and community

development; and,

urban greening and maintenance of

green open spaces.

Fig 1 Contribution of urban Agriculture

3. THE URBAN FARMERS

The urban farmers are women and men coming from

all income groups, but the majority of them are low-

medium income earners, who grow food for self-

consumption or as income generation. Most of the

cultivation is informal with little if any support.

Women tend to dominate certain components of

urban cultivation (backyard gardening, small scale

animal husbandry). Women are still disadvantage in

the formal sector of the urban economy and therefore

get involved in small- and micro-scale production.

Urban food production offers opportunities to be

integrated into other household activities and women

uphold the responsibility for household food security.

Men tend to dominate the commercial urban food

production. In some countries children are involved

mainly in weeding and watering. Different urban

farmers engaged in different production systems co-

operate with one another: they may use each others

plots for different purposes at different times and

they exchange wastes or products.

4. BASIC FACTORS FOR UA

Agricultural activities in a city require basicconditions. Five major areas determine the

occurrences of urban agriculture are,

natural conditions;

physical infrastructure and services;

socio-cultural conditions;

Institutional conditions; and

Economic conditions.

5. SUPPORTING FACTORS FOR UA

The "supporting" factors give an indication about the

"quality" or performance" of agricultural activities

in a city. They make it easier for people to get

involved in it and raise its preference as a survival

strategy against other alternatives. This means: more

UA activities in the city, higher yield potentials,

better management & food safety and higher degree

of integration into other urban issues. In many cases

it indicates the shift of UA being an informal, partlyillegal activity to an accepted legal income

opportunity. Most of the supporting factors can be

actively influenced and indicate possible areas of

interventions.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF URBAN

AGRICULTURE

There are almost as many ways to grow food as there

are growers. Some improve the natural and social

environment while others are positively damaging.

The mainly hydroponics-based commercialhorticulture in the Lea Valley, for instance, is highly

energy-intensive, relying on artificial heating and

lighting, fertilizers and soil-less media such as

Rockwool and peat.

The produce is mostly sold on to supermarkets which

distribute it on a centralized basis, so bypassing local

shops. Growers do, however, use fewer pesticides


3/8

now, since the introduction of integrated pest

management systems.

Many community food-growing schemes have clear

environmental aims:

to promote biodiversity through organicgrowing

to reduce waste through recycling and

composting, and

to minimize food transportation through

local food production.

7. ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF URBAN

AGRICULTURE

To an extent, agricultural sector is squeezed between

urban housing and other developmental Pressures and

a skewed system of agricultural support whichfavours large cereal producers over Small growers.

Market gardening always loses out. While there are

no specific policies to support small producers,

horticultural or otherwise and organic or otherwise,

horticultural growers receive lower levels of

agricultural support than any other farming sector.

The consequences are that the notion of a profitable

small-scale, organic horticultural enterprise isvirtually a contradiction.

.

8. ADVANTAGES OF URBAN AGRICULTUREOVER RURAL AGRICULTURE IN THE 21ST

CENTURY

The quality of food delivered to the dinner

table from UA is higher than food from RA.

It is inherently fresher and was produced

more organically, more micronutrient and

protein rich food than RA,

UA generates a higher return to inputs than

RA because it makes more efficient use of

recycled urban waste, and most waste is

urban.

UA makes more efficient use of land and

water, providing a higher return per square

foot and gallon.

Year-to-year and month-to-month UA is a

more stable industry than RA, as its market

is more stable [more local] and UA adapts

itself more quickly and easily to market

demand.

UA has a lower cost of distribution, due to

proximity, and to reduced loss in transit and

storage,

UA reduces environmental damage, as

higher production per unit of land, less

wastage, and increased use of organic

[recycled] inputs per unit of production,

Greater food security as more avenues are

open wider to residents with low incomes

[access as well as availability].

UA can make efficient use of land that is

idle for as short a period as three growing

seasons.

9. ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONS IN URBAN

AGRICULTURE

A prime focus of the UA advocate may be the

professions. Most professions, were born in the 20th

century and can hinder or advance UA. A continuingapplication of the current professional tenets can in

some cases hinder the achievement of UA's benefits;

for instance:

Sanitary engineering 'rules' regarding the

reuse of wastewater

Public health regulations concerning food

handling

Civil engineering guidelines regarding

rights-of-ways

City planning guidelines regarding street

trees

City planning bylaws regarding land use

Subdivision regulations regarding lot size,

setback etc.


4/8

Building codes regarding rooftops,

Park, recreation, forestry guidelines

regarding design and use of public and

institutional land

Architecture and the design andmaintenance of edible buildings

Energy and heating engineers and the

management of waste heat and bio-cooling

Environmental engineering and the role of

phyto and bio-remediation and agricultural

production

Traffic engineers and the use of road verges

and parking space.

Economists and the measurement of the

costs and benefits of agriculture from the

point of view of Eco-economics in addition

to commodity production.

10. RESEARCH

To conduct research on the various ecological,

socioeconomic, nutritional, policy-related and

environmental dimensions of urban agriculture and

alternative food systems.

To set up, within a working urban farm, experimental

plots where various alternative technologies of crop

management (e.g. biological pest control, organic soilmanagement, intercropping designs, raised beds,

biodynamic farming techniques and permaculture,

etc.) are researched for optimal yields, sustainability,

economic viability, and land/labor productivity.

11. EDUCATION

To establish programs to teach graduate andundergraduate students the theory and practice of

urban agriculture and alternative urban food systems.

To establish a clearing house/resource center to meet

the particular needs of K-12 public school teachers

and administrators.

To train community members in environmentallysound methods of food production through hands-on

learning and field practices in organic horticultural

methods, field days, workshops, seminars, plant

clinics, etc.

To provide assistance and training in the business andmarketing aspects of urban agriculture to community

members.

12. EXTENSION, OUTREACH AND

DEVELOPMENT

To establish links with consumers of all ages,

socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds througheducational events to enhance the understanding of

their role in sustainable food systems and the

importance of food security, growing and eating

healthy food, and establishing social relations

through food production activities. To establish or

maintain a working farm that would serve as a

demonstration area for training community members

and as a research site for the University, whileproviding jobs to local youth and food to local

residents. To establish a set of urban garden plots,perhaps within the farm, to demonstrate various

methods of ecological horticulture to raise food crops

and ornamentals. To assist and promote the

development of community gardens, school gardens

and other related activities by developing working

models, workshops, resources and connections.

13. URBAN AGRICULTURE AND GARDEN

CITY

In the last decade of the 1800s , the City BeautifulMovement formed in the United States in reaction

to crowded cities filled with poverty, crime, blight,

and ugly repetition. Its advocates believed that cities

social ills could be changed by surrounding the

inhabitants with beauty that inspired them to highercivility and morality.

Fig 2 Garden city Concept


5/8

14. TYPES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

SUITABLE

The types of urban agriculture suitable for Chennai

are as follows,

Kitchen gardening

Roof gardening

14.1 KITCHEN GARDENING

Kitchen garden is primarily intended for continous

supply of fresh vegetables for family use. The goal is

to make the function of providing food aesthetically

pleasing. The dietitians recommend 85 grams of

fruits/day, 300 grams of vegetables/day, whereas the

present day consumption of fruit is only 30

grams/day and vegetables is 120 grams/day. There is

a shortage of nutrients for people and to overcome

the problem a new type of urban agriculture came

into existent and it is called kitchen gardening. A

number of vegetables are grown in available land for

getting a variety of vegetables. Area of garden, lay

out, crops selected etc depends on the availability and

nature of land. In urban areas, land is a limiting factor

and very often crops are raised in limiting available

area or in terrace of buildings. Cultivation of crops in

pots or in cement bags is also feasible in cities.

14.1.1 Advantage of kitchen gardening

Supply fresh fruits and vegetables high in

nutritive value.

Supply fruits and vegetables free from toxic

chemicals.

Help to save expenditure on purchase of

vegetables.

Induces children on awareness of dignity oflabour.

Vegetables harvested from home garden

taste better than those purchased from

market.

Effective utilization of kitchen waste water

and kitchen waste materials.

14.1.2. Site selection and size

Choice for selection of site for a kitchen garden is

limited due to shortage of land in homestead. Usually

a kitchen garden is established in backyard of house,

near water source in an open area receiving plenty of

sun light. Size and shape of vegetable garden depends

on availability of land, number of persons in family

and spare time available for its care. Nearly 5 cent of

land of land (200m2) is sufficient to provide

vegetables throughout year for a family consisting of

5 members. A rectangular garden is preferred to a

square plot or a long strip of land

14.2 ROOF GARDEN

In an accessible rooftop garden, space becomes

available for localized small-scale urban agriculture,

a source of local food production. An urban garden

can supplement the diets of the community it feeds

with fresh produce and provide a tangible tie to food

production.

For those who live in small apartments with little

space, square foot gardening, or (when even less

space is available) living walls (vertical gardening)


6/8

can be a solution. These use much less space than

traditional gardening (square foot gardening uses

20% of the space of conventional rows; ten times

more produce can be generated from vertical

gardens). These also encourage environmentally

responsible practices, eliminating tilling, reducing or

eliminating pesticides, and weeding, and encouraging

the recycling of wastes through composting.

Roof gardens are most often found in urban

environments. Plants have the ability to reduce the

overall heat absorption of the building which then

reduces energy consumption. "The primary cause of

heat build-up in cities is insulations, the absorption of

solar radiation by roads and buildings in the city and

the storage of this heat in the building material and its

subsequent re-radiation. Plant surfaces however, as a

result of transpiration, do not rise more than 45 C

above the ambient and are sometimes cooler." This

then translates into a cooling of the environment

between 3.6 and 11.3 degrees Celsius (6.5 and 20.3

F), depending on the area on earth (in hotter areas,

the environmental temperature will cool more).

Fig 3 Roof garden Vs Reference garden

Large mass of area in the roof top are ideal in

condition. 20% of the area is allocated for the water

tank. 30% of the area is used for common purpose

such as washing clothes, sit out, drying washed

clothes etc and 10% of the area is used for the

pathways for flexible movement. The rest 40% of the

roof top area is used for roof gardening.

Fig 4 Area allocation for urban agriculture

15. ORGANISATION INVOLVED IN URBAN

AGRICULTURE

There are three organization involved in the

development of urban agriculture in Chennai namely,

Tamilnadu agricultural university

Hand in hand

Exnora international

15.1 Tamilnadu Agricultural University
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_environment


7/8

The main objectives of the agriculture university are

as follows,

1. to serve as an information centre for hi-tech

horticulture technology

2. to develop a hi-tech horticulture nursery,

supply of quality plant material, tissue

culture plants, seeds of vegetables, flowers

and herbs, ornamental plants, tree seedlings

etc.

3. to impart training programmes on hi-tech

horticulture to urban entrepreneurs,

unemployed graduates, students, NGOs,

corporates, house wives etc.

4. to inculcate knowledge on development of

horti-ecological parks, avenues, greenery,

theme parks, botanical gardens, herbal

parks, landscaping etc. to reduce pollution

and ecological hazards in the city

15.2 Exnora international

Exnora International is a non-governmentalenvironmental service organization started in 1989 in

Chennai, ExNoRa INTERNATIONAL (N G O) is a

Voluntary Non-governmental, Non-political, Non-

profit 'GLOBAL HEAD ENVIRONMENTAL

SERVICE ORGANIZATION'.It's branches / chapters

called the 'EXNORA INNOVATORS CLUB'

(NGO's Branch) are situated in various towns and

villages. Its sub chapters or replicable community

based organizations the 'CIVIC EXNORA' (CBO) are

located in different Streets and Areas. The service at

the grass root level is carried out by a miniature

'Home Based Organization', the home grass root

chapters 'HOME EXNORA' (HBO) at dwellings

(House/Flat/Hut).

15.2.1 Home beautifiers duties

1. Composting organic waste

2. Collection and disposal of recyclables

3. Treatment of sewage water as garden water

4. Home farming which includes terrace

gardening/sky farming

5. Optionally home front gardening

6. Additionally/optionally home cleaning

through vacuum cleaner

Fig 5 Water is treated using Canna

Fig 6 Pot Composting

15.3 Hand in Hand

Hand in Hands aim is to eliminate poverty through

an integrated community development programme.

Our work is founded on the concept of help to self-

help, through participation at the grassroots level. We

believe there should be social, economic, and


8/8

environmental sustainability in everything we do, and

our work is aligned with the UN Millennium

Development Goals.

16. CONCLUSION

A frequent argument, still used by urban planners is

that agriculture should be confined to rural areas, as

it can interfere with more productive use/ rent of land

by other, more profitable economic activities (such as

housing or industries). The overview above however

highlights that urban agriculture does not hamper, but

could be part of urban development. Urban

agriculture can be either located on areas of land not

suited for other functions (road-sides, steep slopes,

areas of land under electricity lines), can be combined

with a range of non-agricultural land use

(multifunctional use of parks) and can be well-

integrated in housing settlements.

The urban agriculture may indeed contribute to more

food secure, productive and environmentally healthy

cities, and reason why growing attention is being

given to urban agriculture by various organisations

and on various (international) agendas. As a result of

such developments, as well as the pressure by local

groups, urban farmers and non-governmental

organisations, many city authorities have

acknowledged the potential of urban agriculture and

are collaborating with other local stakeholders in

efforts to maximise the benefits of urban agriculture,

while reducing its potential associated risks.

References

1. Amend, J. & E. Mwaisango (1998): Status of

Soil Contamination and Soil Fertility - The

Case of Urban Agriculture in Dar es Salaam.

Urban Vegetable Promotion Project, Dar es

Salaam, Tanzania

2. Burra M. (1997). Land use and development

dynamics in the peri-urban zones of Dar es

Salaam city: a quest for planning and

management responses. Journal of Building

and Land development

3. Bailkey, M. and J. Nasr.( 2000). From

Brownfields to Greenfields: Producing Food

in North American Cities. Community Food

Security News. Fall

4. Brook, R and J. Davila.( 2000) The Peri-

Urban Interface: A tale of two citites.

Bethesda, Wales: Gwasg Ffrancon Printers.5. Butler, L. and D.M. Moronek (eds.) (2002).

Urban and Agriculture Communities:

Opportunities for Common Ground. Council

for Agricultural Science and Technology.

Ames Iowa.

6. Cardoso, M.D. and E. Garca (1982),

Vegetation and climate in the basin of

Mexico, Latin American regional

conference IGU, Brazil , Geographical

Topis of Mexico City and its Environs,

Instituto de Geografa, UNAM, Mxico.

7. Care. (1998). Dar es Salaam urban

livelihood security assessment, summary

report. Dar es Salaam.

8. Ceest. (1996). Study on air quality in Dar es

Salaam. Centre of Energy,Environment

Science and Technology Report No. 2. Draft

final report

Documents

Urban Agriculture 2003