FEASIBILITY OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

S.Anbarasan Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering Prathyusha Institute of Technology and Management Thiruvallur Dist, Chennai anbuking@gmail.com , 9894778374
1. INTRODUCTION 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. It is 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 do not 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 by turning 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 Urban agriculture is an industry located within (intraurban) 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 and material 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 Western Europe, 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;

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.

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 basic conditions. Five major areas determine the occurrences of urban agriculture are, natural conditions; physical infrastructure and services; socio-cultural conditions; Institutional conditions; and Economic conditions.

Fig 1 Contribution of urban Agriculture

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, partly illegal 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 commercial horticulture 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. THE URBAN FARMERS The urban farmers are women and men coming from all income groups, but the majority of them are lowmedium income earners, who grow food for selfconsumption 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-

now, since the introduction of integrated pest management systems. Many community food-growing schemes have clear environmental aims: to promote biodiversity through organic growing to reduce waste through recycling and composting, and to minimize food transportation through local food production.

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.

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 which favours 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 is virtually a contradiction. . 8. ADVANTAGES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE OVER 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.

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 continuing application 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 rights-of-ways guidelines regarding

City planning guidelines regarding street trees City planning bylaws regarding land use Subdivision regulations regarding lot size, setback etc.

Building codes regarding rooftops, Park, recreation, forestry guidelines regarding design and use of public and institutional land Architecture and the design maintenance of edible buildings and

methods, field days, workshops, seminars, plant clinics, etc. To provide assistance and training in the business and marketing aspects of urban agriculture to community members. 12. EXTENSION, OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT To establish links with consumers of all ages, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds through educational 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, while providing 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 Beautiful Movement 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 higher civility and morality. Fig 2 Garden city Concept

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 soil management, 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 and undergraduate 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 environmentally sound methods of food production through hands-on learning and field practices in organic horticultural

 Supply fruits and vegetables free from toxic chemicals. Help to save expenditure on purchase of vegetables. Induces children on awareness of dignity of labour. Vegetables harvested from home garden 14. TYPES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE 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 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. For those who live in small apartments with little space, square foot gardening, or (when even less space is available) living walls (vertical gardening) 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. 14.2 ROOF GARDEN 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 SUITABLE The types of urban agriculture suitable for Chennai are as follows, Kitchen gardening Roof gardening

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 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 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

The main objectives of the agriculture university are as follows,

15.2.1 Home beautifiers duties 1. Composting organic waste Collection and disposal of recyclables Treatment of sewage water as garden water Home farming which includes terrace gardening/sky farming 5. 6. Optionally home front gardening Additionally/optionally home cleaning through vacuum cleaner Fig 5 Water is treated using Canna

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

horticulture technology

2. 3. 4.

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-governmental Fig 6 Pot Composting

environmental service organization started in 1989 in Chennai, ExNoRa INTERNATIONAL (N G O) is a Voluntary Non-governmental, Non-political, Nonprofit called 'GLOBAL the HEAD ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB' 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 selfhelp, through participation at the grassroots level. We believe there should be social, economic, and SERVICE ORGANIZATION'.It's branches / chapters 'EXNORA INNOVATORS (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).

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 wellintegrated 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 many and city non-governmental authorities have organisations, 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2.

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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.

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