Peri-urban agriculture in Delhi, India

Rapid urbanization and a progressive shift from rural to urban poverty have important consequences for urban food security. Worldwide studies have shown that urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) may be able to make positive contributions as a local supplier of food to cities and can provide poor households with fresh food, income and employment. However, while generally the interest of international development research and funding agencies in urban and peri-urban agriculture is increasing, very little work has been carried out in India. Accordingly, this article provides a preliminary assessment of the nature, extent and importance of UPA in Delhi. It is shown that UPA is not only a significant and dynamic land use for poor people (particularly landless and farmers with small landholdings) living in urban and peri-urban areas in India, it is also a very important livelihood strategy, providing families with employment, income and food. And although geographical locations may shift over time, the phenomenon of UPA will remain. Nevertheless, UPA is rarely recognized by research and policy communities in India and hence raising awareness about its significance is a major challenge. Considering the agroclimatic, socio-economic and cultural heterogeneity of India, more case-study research will need to be carried out in various cities of different sizes. Further research should aim at integrating an assessment of the nature, significance of and constraints to UPU agriculture with an analysis of actual research and policy-support mechanisms