Urban Argiculture: a vertical approach

Abstract

Population grows at an exponential rate, the problem of urban greens providing food to everyone still persists. The thesis discusses the possibilities and probable spatial solutions for these problems. “The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man” (Malthus, 1798). This statement as given by Thomas Robert Malthus in the 18th century in ‘An Essay on the Principle of Population’, still holds true in this modern world. The situation globally is similar. In the process of urbanization, most of the resources are exploited. This has led to deforestation for agriculture, and then to human settlements. Hence, the problem of providing food to everyone is soon to arise in the near future. Agriculture is an intervention of man for his own existence. From hunters and gatherers to growers, the idea of settling down at a place started. The first established historical cities have been the consumers to the produce from the nearest countryside. With respect to the pressure on the habitable land due to urbanization, the thesis argues that why the process of food production cannot happen inside the human settlements? Since most of the land was under agriculture and now is taken over for development. As it was used in the past. The idea of agriculture in the urban areas exists since the early 20th century. The background has always been a forceful decision when the food supply was cut-off due to calamity or a disaster. Further, it is also said that there will be soon a shortage of food due to adverse effects of climate change and the World will face Global Food Crisis by 2050. Agriculture in urban areas is necessary as it provides primary benefits like food security and nutrition safety. Along with this, other benefits include a reduction in the food miles, reduction of the urban heat island effect, generation employment and many more. Conventional agriculture is in stress globally. There are farmer suicides across the globe in developed, emerging and nascent economies. Clearly, the sector is facing deep reforms to become 'an industry' much like the other components of the primary economic sector. This is an added argument to support Vertical Farming as it will be an industrialized system of production. Vertical Farming is looked upon as one such way to practice farming in the urban areas. The idea has various benefits like more production in the same amount of land and can add to the breathing space as required by the city. The main objectives identified for the study were to study the best practices and to identify the parameters required for further study. Further, the potential to introduce the idea of Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming will be assessed based on the current land use in the area and supporting policies, an identification of hindrance and factors that can contribute to the practice and encouragement of the same. A policy formulated with the cumulative inferences from the above . For the analysis and assessment, a collection of data like City Development Plan and the DCR was done from the secondary sources. Proposed Landuse Plans and documents regarding the property taxes were done by visiting the respective departments in the study area. During the site visit and in the interviews with the residents, it was observed that many of the residents are not aware of the concept. It was also found that most of the residents are urban poor and have migrated from various parts of the state as well as the country to lead a city life. Further, in the deeper conversations, it was evident that most of them have a background in traditional agricultural practices and have migrated as agriculture, for them, is not a high income generating profession. During the site visit and meetings with the experts, it was disclosed that there exists no policy pertaining to urban agriculture in the study area. Redefining the Urban Landuse may lead to gradual increase to address food security as cities may become sustainable in terms of the food supply. All the above-mentioned inferences and conclusions have helped in the policy formation for the successful implementation mechanism in the area. The study later reveals that there can be development control regulations that if modified can help the residents to practice on their own in the residential apartments in balconies or rooftops. The idea of Agriculture Incentive Zone can help the residents and the urban local body to have a return generating model. A detailed structure with roles of each stakeholder identified is defined at different stages of the proposal. However, it should be noted that the study does not address the adverse effects of the implementation. The market study and the economic benefits of the producers if studied can add a further credibility to the research.