Urban Food Security through Urban Agriculture and Waste Recycling: Some

Lessons for India

By Rahul Guptha and Sumita Gupth Gangopadhyay

Food securityThere are enough reasons to be concern about food

security. Production, distribution and consumption of food along

with management of waste thus generated should be done in a substantial manner. To ensure that the needs of future generation.

A number of government and development authorities are towards better management and promotion of urban food production.

in the 21st centurystrong urban land and agricultural policies has created a special economic sector through proper utilization of waste recycling and urban agriculture.

Urban food system River ,canal banks, peripheral land of school,

college, private and government establishments, community and municipal plots and roof-tops are commonly utilized.

Peri-urban agriculture can even be used as an effective tool for delimiting the city.

Sixty percent of vegetables grows are grown in urban and peri-urban areas.

Cuba and Brazil demonstrated how vacant lands in urban areas can be used to produce food.

To mitigate urban hunger while greening and upgrading the environment.

Food system planningIt has direct spatial implication on the urban planning

process; including transportation, land use, environment, and economic development.

It also inter-connects the activities that enables the food travel from the farm to the plate.

A successful community food system will encourage local food production.

Through identifying and transforming certain areas like low-laying land, waste dumping sites, etc., into economically viable agricultural land use zones.

It brings to mind the image of food super markets and grocery stores or city eateries and fast food chains.

Urban agricultureThis will bring about ecological balance and also

provide employment to the urban poor those who are continuously migrating from their land.

Urban agriculture with horticulture development, fisheries, poultry and livestock development should be made mandatory in cities.

Adjacent areas to not only provide food security and mitigate nutritional deficiencies of the urban poor but also for enterprise development and environmental enhancement.

With land and waste management potential to improve their overall sustainability.

Food security in IndiaIndia is rapidly urbanizing. The conventional system planning is not long-

term, holistic, or comprehensive in nature etc., as per the Town and Country planning Act .

In view of fearful stature urban hunger and poverty are assuming in India.

The challenges of urban hunger and unsustainable urban development are to be fought by finding a synergy between intelligent public policy, innovative urban planning and agriculture techniques.