There has been an increasing concern and awareness amongst consumers about the quality of food produce, the distance it travels and its ability to retain its nutritional value. The use of chemical fertilizers and the uncertainty of hygienic growing conditions and transporting has fueled a desire to procure and consume produce that is grown closer and under conditions that assure consumers of their hygiene, growing methods and freshness.
Besides quality of produce, a certain section of consumers is concerned about the carbon impact of the process, while some are concerned about food security. For some, who do not have access to or aspire to own a farm someday, urban farming can be an alternate solution to growing healthy food and, in the process, also pursuing a de-stressing and fulfilling activity, making it a good choice for something to make you feel better after a hard day’s work!
With growing population and urbanization, fertile lands are diminishing and an increasing number of farm labor is moving to cities. Urban farming is a probable solution for efficiently using the land available for feeding people as they not only take minimal space but also provide fresh produce.
So, what is Urban Farming?
Growing or producing food in heavily populated areas like cities is referred to as Urban Farming. It involves the practice of growing produce like fruits and vegetables using various methods like container or terrace gardening, vertical gardens, aquaponics, hydroponics and aeroponics systems, and controlled-environment agriculture to grow crops.
It is a way to take advantage of limited space and grow healthy food for yourself or your family. Typically, it applies intensive production methods, using natural resources and repurposing urban wastes (e.g., food waste as natural fertilizers or to make comport) for yield a diverse array of land-, water-, and air-based fauna and flora to achieve food security; health; livelihood for individuals, households, and community members.
As the produce is grown locally, it reduces the time between harvested and reaching consumers, saving time, reducing travel and transportation costs, and preserving nutritional value.
Some Types of Urban Farms
1.Commercially Run
These include green houses, vertical farms and set ups like aquaponic, aeroponic and hydroponic systems
2.Individual or Community Run
These include terrace, balcony or backyard gardens, green walls and street landscaping
Advantages of Urban Farming
- Creates edible ‘green’ city landscapes
- Grow food within limited spaces
- Addresses the growing local food trend
- Help boost the local economy
- Healthy communities
- Reduces packaging and transportation costs
- Higher food quality and reduces food wastage
Urban farming at a personal level also offers the additional benefit of acting as a stepping stone for those interested in moving towards taking up full time farming by putting you at ease with your perceived ability to confidently grow some form of produce, understand seasonality, managing weeds, pests, nourishing crops, watering and troubleshooting other challenges.
While challenges such as identifying, buying, and managing farmland remain, they can be addressed through the various options that have sprung up in the form of managed farmlands in India. These are ideal for those interested in pursuing farming either as a full time or a part time activity, without the operational challenges, but under the guidance of experts from various operational aspects of the process.
So, if you would like to know if you have a green thumb, repurpose a used coffee cup or any packaging material, add some soil and drop in some seeds from a fruit or vegetable from your kitchen and nurture that seed into a plant to get started with your urban gardening adventure!
Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions, a company providing managed farmlands in India. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and runs a 15-acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.