Urban Farming in India – Types and Advantages

Table of Contents

• Urban Farming in India
• Major Crops Cultivated in Urban Agriculture
• Types of Urban Farming
  • Kitchen Gardening
  • Vertical Farming
  • Rooftop Farming
  • Peri-Urban Farming
  • Mushroom Cultivation
• Advantages of Urban Farming
• Success Stories of Urban Farming in India

Urban Farming in India

Urban farming or urban agriculture is the practice of cultivation, processing and marketing of food products within urban spaces. Urban farming involves different types of farming, such as kitchen gardening, rooftop farming, vertical farming and various others. The population in urban areas is on the rise, and so is the demand for food and food products.

In recent years, urban farming has gained importance. Urban agriculture offers an innovative approach to deal with the challenges related to food in urban spaces, where the land is limited, and demand for sustainable food production is high. We will discuss major crops for urban farming, their types and advantages, and some success stories.

Major Crops Cultivated in Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture allows the cultivation of vegetables with a short production cycle. Some of the vegetables cultivated in urban farming are harvested within sixty days of their plantation, making them an ideal option. Urban farming aims to produce vegetables and fruits that are highly valued and in high demand. Some of the major crops cultivated in urban agriculture are:

• Root crops: Sweet Potato, Potato, Radish, Cassava, Carrot, Ginger and others.
• Vegetables: Capsicum, brinjal, Tomato, Chillies and others.
• Fruits: Mangoes, Banana, Guava, Avocados, Cherry, Citrus, Coconut, etc.
• Mushrooms: Oyster mushroom, Paddy straw mushroom, Button mushroom and others.
• Herbs or green leafy vegetables: Curry leaves, Watercress, Coriander, Spinach and others.

Types of Urban Farming

Different types of urban farming are practised in India. Depending on the size, area, produced item and several other aspects. Some of the popular types of urban farming are as follows:

• Kitchen Gardening
• Vertical Farming
• Rooftop Farming
• Peri-urban Farming
• Mushroom Cultivation

Kitchen Gardening

This type of urban farming involves the cultivation of herbs and vegetables that are commonly used in the kitchen. These are cultivated in and around the domestic area on a limited scale. The products are cultivated with the objective of being used for household purposes only and not for commercial purposes. This type of urban farming allows less dependency on the market availability of the cultivated vegetables or herbs.

Vertical Farming

Vertical farming is another type of urban farming that involves crop cultivation in stacked layers. Vertical farming offers higher yields in specific areas than other forms of farming. Abandoned old buildings, tall apartments, or walls can be used for this type of farming to increase the area covered for vegetable cultivation.

Rooftop Farming

Rooftop farming, as the name suggests, is a farming performed on the rooftop of an apartment or a house. It can be practised by individuals or group of families. This farming is done to meet the cultivated product needs of families or communities involved in the cultivation. The objective here is to use the empty space for cultivation to reduce market dependency on the cultivated product.

Peri-Urban Farming

Peri-Urban agriculture refers to farming performed at the perimeter or outskirts of urban space. Here, the farmers are free to practice large-scale production. In India, over 60 per cent of the produce available in the urban market is from peri-urban farming. This practice helps reduce the cost involved in transportation, mediators, and commission. The crops cultivated in this type of urban farming involve leafy vegetables, fruits, and herbs that remain fresh for consumption due to the shorter distance.

Mushroom Cultivation

It involves the cultivation of different types of mushrooms. These crops grow on organic waste and offer a valuable yield that is fit for consumption. Mushrooms have gained popularity recently as an alternate source of minerals, vitamins, folic acid, iron and proteins. It requires a controlled environment for proper cultivation and is beneficial due to excessive market demand.

Advantages of Urban Farming

• Nutritional food: Urban farming allows the cultivation of fruits and vegetables that are rich in minerals and vitamins and offer necessary nutrients.
• Environmental benefits: The reduced use of water, space and material involved in urban farming impacts the environment relatively less than traditional farming.
• Social well-being: Urban farming performed on community land increases social interaction as people can share their cultivation with others, leading to improved social well-being.
• Economic benefits: Urban farming allows employment opportunities to marginal individuals, thus providing them a good income.
• Efficient resource utilisation: With limited land and resources to cultivate, only the interested individual can utilise the space available, thus improving the efficient use of resources.

Success Stories of Urban Farming in India

Some of the most popular success stories of urban farming in India are as follows:

• Delhi: The farmers in Delhi have been producing vegetables for a long time on the banks of the Yamuna River. They sell these vegetables in the market, ensuring a significant portion of the food security of the people of Delhi.
• Mumbai: Dr Doshi is popular in Mumbai for his approach to city gardening. This gardening focuses on pure organic production. The locally available waste, such as polyethene bags, sugarcane waste, cylinders and tyre containers, are recycled and used for cultivation purposes. This approach can be used in limited spaces, such as balconies and terraces.
• Hyderabad: Over 4000 families on the perimeter of the city are self-reliant on their respective households' vegetable requirements. The local government has shown interest and offers a subsidy kit of 360 rupees to farmers interested within or around Hyderabad.