26 March 2025 : Daily Answer Writing

Q1)“With growing urbanization, peri-urban agriculture is emerging as a significant contributor to fresh farm produce needs”. In this context, discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with promoting peri-urban agriculture in a sustainable manner. (10 marks, 150 words)

ANSWER

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. Situated on the outskirts of cities, peri urban areas are transitioning from rural to urban users, making them pivotal for addressing food security, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience.

Urban Agriculture, also called urban gardening or urban farming, refers to the practice of cultivating crops, raising animals, or growing food in urban and peri urban areas. It involves utilizing available urban spaces such as rooftops, balconies, community gardens, and vacant lots for agricultural purposes. It contributes to local food production, promoting self-sufficiency, and reducing dependence on external food sources.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERI URBAN FARMING IN INDIA:

1. Technological Innovation: India can leverage advancements in agricultural technologies such as hydroponics, vertical farming, and precision agriculture to optimize land use and resource efficiency in peri-urban settings.
2. Rising Urbanization and Food Security: With India projected to urbanize rapidly, accommodating 50% of its population in cities by 2050, peri-urban agriculture becomes crucial for ensuring food security. Cities already consume 80% of global food production, necessitating local food sources to meet urban demands.
3. Pressures arising from land distribution patterns: Urban expansion leads to the loss of agricultural land, threatening food production. Peri-urban areas offer a buffer, leveraging available land near cities to sustain agricultural activities amidst urbanization pressures.
4. Environmental Sustainability: Green infrastructure in peri-urban areas contributes to biodiversity conservation, mitigates urban heat islands, and improves overall environmental quality of nearby urban cities. Peri Urban farming can become promoters of organic farming, thereby reducing bioaccumulation of chemical fertilizers in urban population.
5. Economic Opportunities: Peri Urban farming provides avenues for economic growth through local market development, job creation, and entrepreneurship. It supports small-scale farming enterprises and fosters agricultural innovation tailored to urban contexts.
6. Social Cohesion and Community Health: Engaging urban residents in agriculture fosters community bonding, provides recreational spaces, and promotes healthier lifestyles through access to fresh, locally grown produce. These initiatives promote inclusive growth by empowering marginalized communities, including women and youth, through skill development and income generation in agriculture-related activities.
7. Policy Imperatives: Effective urban land-use planning (ULP) and supportive policies are essential for integrating agriculture into urban development plans. Policies should incentivize peri-urban farming, ensure land protection, and provide infrastructure support.
8. Poverty alleviation: Globally, in 2020, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization acknowledged that urban and peri urban farming can contribute to local food and nutritional needs, enable jobs and reduce poverty.
9. Circular Economy: Urban agriculture aids in managing organic waste by composting food scraps and utilizing them as nutrient-rich soil amendments, aligning with circular economy principles and reducing landfill waste. This can facilitate comparatively lower operating cost in peri urban agriculture than the traditional methods.

CHALLENGES IN PROMOTING PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE:

1. Land Use Conflicts: Competition for peri-urban land between agriculture and urban development poses threats to agricultural viability and food production sustainability.
2. Environmental Risks: Pollution from urban activities, soil contamination, and water quality degradation due to improper waste management and agricultural practices might endanger food safety and environmental health of the peripheral areas.
3. Policy Gaps: Inadequate policy frameworks and regulatory support for peri-urban agriculture hinder its expansion and integration into urban planning and development strategies.
4. Infrastructure Deficiencies: Lack of essential infrastructure such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and market linkages limits the scalability and economic viability of peri-urban farming enterprises.
5. Technological Barriers: Limited access to and adoption of advanced agricultural technologies and practices suitable for urban contexts restricts productivity and resource efficiency in peri-urban agriculture. This will multiply the initial investment of the peri urban farming.
6. Community Engagement: Limited awareness and participation of urban residents in peri-urban agriculture initiatives impede community support and sustainability of urban farming projects.
7. Climate Vulnerability: Peri-urban areas face increasing vulnerability to climate change impacts such as water scarcity, extreme weather events, and temperature fluctuations, affecting agricultural productivity and resilience.

SUGGESTIONS AND WAY FORWARD:

1. Policy Integration: Integrate peri-urban agriculture into urban planning policies, providing incentives for sustainable farming practices and protecting agricultural lands from urban encroachment.
2. Infrastructure Development: Invest in peri-urban infrastructure like irrigation systems, cold storage facilities, and farmer markets to support agricultural production and market access.
3. Capacity Building: Provide training and technical assistance to peri-urban farmers on climate-smart agricultural practices, resource-efficient farming techniques, and value-added processing.
4. Community Participation: Foster community engagement through educational programs, farmer cooperatives, and participatory decision-making processes to enhance local support for peri-urban agriculture.
5. Research and Innovation: Promote research and development in urban agriculture technologies, including hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, compact agri machineries and agri extension development to enhance productivity and sustainability.

The incorporation of Peri Urban Farming into Urban Land Use Planning will enable support in achieving urban food security and even a circular bioeconomy. This can lead to developing healthy and sustainable cities for all. Peri Urban Farming must be understood as a permanent and dynamic part of the urban socio-economic and ecological system. The integration of Peri Urban Farming into the urban land use system and the creation of a favourable policy environment are critical steps in the development of the sector.

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