DIseertation Final

URBAN AGRICULTURE IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
LIST OF FIGURES …………………………………………………………………………………………………...…4
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................ 6
1.1 AIM.................................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2 OBJECTIVES...................................................................................................................................................7
1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY.........................................................................................................................................7
1.4 NEED OF THE STUDY...................................................................................................................................7
1.5 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................................................8
1.6 LIMITATION.....................................................................................................................................................9
1.7 EXPECTED OUTCOME.................................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................10
2.1 URBAN AGRICULTURE..............................................................................................................................10
2.2 EVOLUTION OF AGRICULTURE...............................................................................................................10
2.3 PRESENT STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE WORLD........................................................................11
2.4 PRESENT STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA....................................................................................12
2.4.1 LINK OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND AGRICULTURE............................................................13
2.4.2 PROBLEMS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE IN INDIA.............................................................13
2.4.3 AGRICULTURE IN KERALA.....................................................................................................15
2.5 EVOLUTION OF URBAN AGRICULTURE...............................................................................................17
2.5.1 EVOLUTION IN USA................................................................................................................17
2.5.2 EVOLUTION IN KERALA..........................................................................................................18
2.6 URBAN SPACE............................................................................................................................................18
2.6.1 INTRODUCTION TO URBAN SPACE.....................................................................................18
2.6.2 EMERGENCE OF URBAN SPACE..........................................................................................19
2.6.3 PERI-URBAN SPACE............................................................................................................... 20
2.7 BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE...................................................................................................21
2.7.1 URBAN AGRICULTURE IN WORLD LEVEL............................................................................21
2.7.2 DIMENSIONS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE IN CITIES............................................................23
2.7.3 MAIN BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE........................................................................24
2.8 TYPES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE.........................................................................................................25
2.8.1 INSTITUTIONAL FARMS AND GARDENS...............................................................................26
2.8.2 COMMERCIAL FARMS............................................................................................................28
2.8.3 COMMUNITY GARDENS......................................................................................................... 29
DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19
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2.8.4 COMMUNITY FARMS..............................................................................................................30

2.9 URBAN AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES.................................................................................................31
2.9.1 HYDROPONICS...................................................................................................................... 31
2.9.2 AEROPONICS.......................................................................................................................... 33
2.9.3 AQUAPONICS......................................................................................................................... 34
2.9.4 POLY HOUSE/ GREEN HOUSE..............................................................................................36
CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY.......................................................................................................................... 37
3.1 LITERATURE CASE STUDY......................................................................................................................37
3.1.1 URBAN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK......................................................37
3.1.2 URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITIES IN ROSARIO, ARGENTINA....................................39
3.1.3 NORC FARM, NEW YORK, USA..............................................................................................40
CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS................................................................................................................................ 42
4.1 SPATIAL ASPECTS......................................................................................................................................42
4.2 TECHNICAL ASPECTS................................................................................................................................42
4.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS....................................................................................................................43
4.4 SOCIAL ASPECTS........................................................................................................................................43
CHAPTER 5: INFERENCE............................................................................................................................ 44
5.1 DESIGN GUIDELINES................................................................................................................................44
5.1.1 RESIDENTIAL LEVEL............................................................................................................. 44
5.1.2 COMMUNITY LEVEL...............................................................................................................45
5.1.3 TOWN/CITY LEVEL................................................................................................................. 46
5.2 POLICIES TO IMPLIMENT URBAN AGRICULTURE..............................................................................47
5.2.1 RESIDENTIAL LEVEL............................................................................................................. 47
5.2.2 TOWN OR CITY LEVEL..........................................................................................................48
CHAPTER 6: RESULT & CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................49
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................... 50

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1: Farmers suicide rate in 2011 ……………………….................................10
Table 2.2: projected food supply………………………………………………………. 11
Table 2.3: Per capita net availability of food grains………………………………... 12
Table 5.1: Land use and related contaminants…………………………………….. 51

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1: Food crises across countries

Figure 1.2: Urban Agriculture
Figure 1.3: Rural Agriculture
Figure 2.1: Industrial Agriculture
Figure 2.2: Global Agriculture Zones
Figure 2.3: Impact of rising food prices in 2012
Figure 2.4: Major crop area in 1973
Figure 2.5: Major crop area, 2011
Figure 2.6: Natural vegetation, 2011
Figure 2.7: Top agricultural companies
Figure 2.8: Main crop areas in Kerala
Figure 2.9: History of urban agriculture in united states of America
Figure 2.10: Urban Agricultural time line in Kerala
Figure 2.11: Urban areas in the world
Figure 2.12: Causes of death in USA
Figure 2.13: New York city map
Figure 2.14: Types of urban Agriculture
Figure 2.15: School gardens in NYC
Figure 2.16: Hell’s kitchen farm, NYC
Figure 2.17: Roof top layout
Figure 2.18: Riverpark farm
Figure 2.19: NYC Community gardens
Figure 2.20: Essex garden before
Figure 2.21: Essex garden after
Figure 2.22: Phoenix farm
Figure 2.23: Hydroponics
Figure 2.24: Window farms
Figure 2.25: Functioning of Hydroponics system
Figure 2.26: Aeroponics
Figure 2.27: Details of aeroponics system
Figure 2.28: Comparison of Aeroponics system
Figure 2.29: Aquaponics
Figure 2.30: Functioning of aquaponics system
Figure 2.31: Poly house
Figure 3.1: Urban Agriculture in NYC
Figure 3.2: New York Map
Figure 3.3: NYC Regional foodshed
Figure 3.4: Existing farms in NYC
Figure 3.5: Argentina &Rosario Maps
Figure 3.6: Farms in Rosario

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Figure 3.7: Farms in Rosario

Figure 3.8: NORC Farms
Figure 3.9: NYC good food accessibility
Figure 5.1: Typical planter box section
Figure 5.2: Typical cross planting area
Figure 5.3: Roof drain planting area
Figure 5.4: Phase 1
Figure 5.5: Phase 2
Figure 5.6: Phase 3
Figure 5.7: Phase 4
Figure 5.8: Phase 5

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Today, 54 percent of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to
increase to 66 per cent by 2050. The World Urbanization Prospects by UNDESA’s Population
Division released in 2014 notes that the largest urban growth will take place in India, China and
Nigeria. More than twenty-five million children will go hungry by the middle of this century as climate
change leads to food shortages and soaring prices for staples such as rice, wheat, maize and soya
bean. (Suzanne, 2009)
India which is the second largest population in the world, has been facing problems of food crisis
since 1991. There has been a sharp decline in per capita grain output as well as grain consumption
in the economy as a whole. Income has been shifting away from the majority towards the wealthy
minority and a substantial segment of the population is being forced to eat less food and wear older
clothing than before.
Urban agriculture can be defined as growing fruits, herbs, and vegetables and raising animals in
cities, a process that is accompanied by many other complementary activities such as processing

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and distributing food, collecting and reusing food waste and rainwater, and educating, organizing,
and employing local residents.
Agriculture can provide greater biodiversity than many other urban land uses. Its contributions are
greatest when conceived in partnership with other urban improvements that lead toward more
sustainable, “greener” cities. The most serious long-term challenge facing Indian agriculture is
global warming and Climate Change. Urban Agriculture to an extend can help to tackle the
problems of global warming & food crisis.
1.1 AIM
The aim is to research the potentials & challenges of Urban Agriculture in Residential Buildings in
the Kerala Context.
1.2 OBJECTIVES
The Objective is to study:

• To understand the general concept of Urban Agriculture in Global, Indian & Kerala Context
• To identify the Spatial, Technical, Environment & Cultural Aspects of Urban agriculture
• To identify the present situations of Urban Agriculture in Residential Buildings in Kerala
• To analyse the potential benefits & challenges of Urban Agriculture in Residential Buildings,
and to formulate guidelines in the Kerala context
1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY

Vertical urban agriculture enhances the possibility of sustainable green cities. The study could
trigger residential design criteria in which people have specified spaces for farming like they have
specified spaces for parking. It will help to promote community living in residential neighbourhoods
especially apartments. This could foster a generation which is more concerned on ways to attain
food and alleviate the problems of malnutrition in urban populations. Hence the study could be more
developed from the prototype model arrived from the research.
1.4 NEED OF THE STUDY

Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output. Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry and
fisheries accounted for 13.7% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 2013, about 50% of the total
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workforce. The economic contribution of agriculture to India's GDP is steadily declining with the
country's broad-based economic growth. Still, agriculture is demographically the broadest economic
sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India (Parliament, 2013)
Agriculture has been the main source of occupation for lots of people in Kerala for many years, but
with the upcoming of industrialized farms, it has lost its value & even people who depended on
farmers for a long time for food has gone blind and started to neglect even the farming communities
that existed for a long time, whom provide the people with food. This has led to suicide of many
farmers across Kerala and similar is the case in the other places in India. In last 15 years, over 2.5
million farmers have committed suicide and not one of them was practicing organic farming (Soni,
2014). Taking away the land from farmers in the name of industrialization is not a good sign for the
future. An integrated system of small farms is a sustainable practice. Slow agricultural growth is a
concern for policymakers as some two-thirds of India’s people depend on rural employment for a
living. Current agricultural practices are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable and
India's yields for many agricultural commodities are low. Poorly maintained irrigation systems and
almost universal lack of good extension services are among the factors responsible. Farmers'
access to markets is hampered by poor roads, rudimentary market infrastructure, and excessive
regulation (Bank, 2009). Urban Agriculture will help to unite the people in the urban space as well as
the peri-urban space. So that people in the urban as well as the rural areas will benefit. Urban
agriculture uses resources in cities that would otherwise go to waste. Above all urban agriculture
provides the community with healthy and organic food. Hence there is a need to promote
sustainable & organic methods of farming in the society, since the core of the society is the homes,
initially it should be started from the residential buildings.
1.5 METHODOLOGY
The following methodology was adopted:

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1.6 LIMITATION
The study will be limited to farming of fruits & vegetables in Residential Buildings. Also empirical &
numerical data of spaces will not be accessed due to limitation of time.
1.7 EXPECTED OUTCOME

The expected outcome is to formulate design guidelines for implementing Urban Agriculture in
Residential Buildings in the Kerala context.

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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 URBAN AGRICULTURE

Urban agriculture can be defined shortly as, the growing of plants and the raising of animals
within and around cities. The most striking feature of urban agriculture, which distinguishes it
from rural agriculture is that, it can be integrated into the urban economic and ecological system.
Urban agriculture is embedded in and interacting with the urban ecosystem. Such linkages
include the use of urban residents as labourers, use of typical urban resources (like organic
waste as compost and urban waste water for irrigation), direct links with urban consumers, direct
impacts on urban ecology (positive and negative), being part of the urban food system,
competing for land with other urban functions, being influenced by urban policies and plans, etc.
2.2 EVOLUTION OF AGRICULTURE

Life a miracle in the universe appeared around 4 billion years ago, and we human only 2,00,000
years ago. Yet we have succeeded in disrupting the balance that is so essential to life (Bertrand,
2009). The engine of life is linkage, everything is linked and nothing is self-sufficient.
The invention of agriculture took less than 10,000 years ago, Agriculture was our great
revolution. It gave birth to surpluses and gave birth to cities & civilizations. The need for
wandering for food ended, as grains were cultivated on lands. The techniques of producing
different varieties of grains & adapting them to different soil types gave the advantage.
Agriculture is still the world’s most wide spread occupation; half of human kind tilt the soil. Over
3 quarters of them are by hand (Bertrand, 2009). Agriculture is like a tradition handed down from
generation to generation, in sweat, graft & toil. Because for humanity it is a prerequisite for
survival.
The invention of coal, oil & gas freed humans from the toil on the land. With oil, began the era of
humans, who break free from the shackles of time & in 50 years the earth has been more
radically changed, than all previous generations of humanity (Bertrand, 2009).
Today over half of the world’s 7 billion inhabitants live in cities. In the last 60 years the earth’s
population has almost tripled, and over 2 billion peoples have moved to cities.
Covered farming like greenhouse farming or poly houses reduces the intensity of sunlight and
alleviate the problems of drought in farm lands. Agriculture accounts for 70% of humanities
water consumption. (Hanasaki, 2008)
The expansion of cultivated land in single crop farming encouraged the development of parasite.
Pesticide, a development of the petro chemical industry exterminated them. Hence bad harvests
and famine became a distant memory. The biggest headache then was what to do with the
surpluses engendered by modern agriculture. But toxic pesticides seeped into the air, soil,
plants, animals, rivers and oceans. They penetrated the heart of cells similar to the mother cell
shared by all forms of life. Then came fertilizers, another petrochemical discovery. They
produced unprecedented results on plots of land thus far ignored. This allowed crops to adapt to
soils and climates gave way to the most productive varieties and were easiest to transport. And
so, in the last century, three-quarters of the varieties developed by farmers over thousands of
years have been wiped out. (Bertrand, 2009)
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Until the Industrial Revolution, the vast majority of the human population laboured in agriculture.
Pre-industrial agriculture was typically subsistence agriculture/self-sufficiency in which farmers
raised most of their crops for their own consumption instead of cash crops for trade. A
remarkable shift in agricultural practices has occurred over the past century in response to new
technologies, and the development of world markets.
2.3 PRESENT STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE WORLD

In the developed world, industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture has become the
dominant system of modern farming, although there is growing support for sustainable
agriculture, including permaculture and organic agriculture.
From figure 2.2, the importance of agriculture around the world can be understood (does not
include pasture grounds). In 2011, the main crop lands was found to be present in the Greater
Mississippi Basin, Eurasian steppe, North European plain, Reo de la Plata region, Ganges
Basin, etc.
Agricultural food production and water management are increasingly becoming global issue that
are fostering debate on a number of fronts. Significant degradation of land and water resources,
including the depletion of aquifers, has been observed in recent decades, and the effects of
global warming on agriculture and of agriculture on global warming are still not fully understood.
The reasons for the rise in food crisis are many, the countries affected are mostly the under
developed and developing countries. The main impacts are the decline in the value of currency,
fluctuation in import shares and change in the consumption amount (figure 2.3). The poorer
people in the urban area, people in peri-urban and people in the rural areas are the most
affected.

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2.4 PRESENT STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

As per the data’s of Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, in 2011, India had a large and
diverse agricultural sector, accounting, on average, for about 16% of GDP and 10% of export
earnings. India's arable land area of 159.7 million hectares (394.6 million acres) is the second
largest in the world, after the United States. Its gross irrigated crop area of 82.6 million hectares
(215.6 million acres) is the largest in the world. India is among the top three global producers of
many crops, including wheat, rice, pulses, cotton, peanuts, fruits and vegetables.
Worldwide, as of 2011, India had the largest herds of buffalo and cattle, is the largest producer
of milk and has one of the largest and fastest growing poultry industries.

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From the maps ( Fig 2.4 & 2.5), it is understood how the cultivation of main crops like wheat,
rice, jowar and bajra have gradually reduced over a period of 30 years. Rice being the main crop
for majority of the Indian citizens, if found to be grown in all regions except the western region.
While wheat is grown mostly in the northern & central parts of India. These major crops need
good sunlight for their growth, so grown in tropical dry deciduous areas as well as tropical wet &
moist regions of the south.
2.4.1 LINK OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND AGRICULTURE

Irrigation in India refers to the supply of water from Indian rivers, tanks, wells, canals and other
artificial projects for the purpose of cultivation and agricultural activities. In country such as India,
64% of cultivated land is dependent on monsoons (Wikipedia, 2012). The economic significance
of irrigation in India is namely, to reduce over dependence on monsoons, advanced agricultural
productivity, bringing more land under cultivation, reducing instability in output levels, creation of
job opportunities, electricity and transport facilities, control of floods and prevention of droughts.
2.4.2 PROBLEMS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

With a population of just over 1.2 billion, India is the world’s largest democracy. Preliminary
estimates suggest that in 2009-10 the combined all India poverty rate was 32% compared to
37% in 2004-05(Ninan, 2011). Going forward, it will be essential for India to build a productive,
competitive, and diversified agricultural sector and facilitate rural, non-farm entrepreneurship and
employment. Encouraging policies that promote competition in agricultural marketing will ensure
that farmers receive better prices.
2.4.2.1 FARMER’S SUICIDE IN INDIA

Following the liberalising economic reforms of 1991 the government withdrew support from the

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agricultural sector. These reforms, along with other factors, led to a rise in farmer suicides.
Various studies identify the important factors as the withdrawal of government support, insufficient
or risky credit systems, the difficulty of farming semi-arid regions, poor agricultural income, absence
of alternative income opportunities, a downturn in the urban economy which forced non-farmers into
farming, and the absence of suitable counselling services.
Suicide rates among Indian farmers were a chilling 47 per cent higher than they were for the rest of
the population in 2011. In some of the “Tate’s worst hit by the agrarian crisis; they were well over
100 per cent higher. The new Census 2011 data reveal a shrinking farmer population. And it is on
this reduced base that the farm suicides now occur. (Gopinath, 2008)
2.4.2.2 LACK OF PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FARMERS & AGRICULTURAL

COMPANIES
The relationship between farmers and agricultural companies are not in proper terms the
farmers are not getting proper price for the crops they cultivate. As for now there is no justice
and equity between people whose only tools are their hands and those who harvest their crops
with a machine, as the former in most cases have no subsidies, while later state better subsidies
and support from the government.

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Only by proper policies and methods the life of the farmers could be saved. Urban agriculture
can help in a way to bring about, not just general awareness about the need of the farmers in
society, but can also provide better job opportunities to the farming community.
2.4.2.3 INCREASE IN FOOD DEMAND

Due to the increase in urbanization the rate of food demand will also increase. As per the
projected rates, (in table 2.2 & 2.3) the demand will increase in a rate that is so high. So there
should be additional measures to meet the need and so urban agriculture could help in meeting
the need if done efficiently.
2.4.3 AGRICULTURE IN KERALA

Contribution of agriculture to GDP decreased drastically (from 30% to 14.5%) during the last two

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decades. So is the case with Kerala, during the last two decades the average annual growth of
agriculture also declined from 6-7% to 3%. However, the population engaged in agriculture has
not decreased in commensuration with the decrease in rate of growth. Now also agriculture
provides employment to about 52% of the workforce as compared to 61% during 1990-91 (Steel,
2011).
2.4.3.1 PROBLEMS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE IN KERALA

The Agriculture in Kerala which is dominated by small and marginal farmers is facing various
challenges such as climate change, globalization of trade and economy, etc.
The average size of land holding is around 0.27 ha. The population density is very high. More
and more agricultural lands are converted due to population pressure. Homesteads with 3 - 10
cents of land and multi-storeyed flats are coming up in many parts of the state, even in villages.
Technology to grow crops in these special situations need to be developed. Precision farming is
one of the solutions to this.
In spite of the many-fold increase in institutional capacity since independence, the enrolment
ratio in agriculture and allied sciences is even now less than 1% of the total enrolment at
national level. There is heavy shortfall of availability of qualified agricultural technical human
resources in select rapidly growing sectors. The Constraint’s in Kerala’s agriculture are as
follows:

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 Low productivity in major crops of Kerala

 High cost of production and lack of remunerative prices for the produce
 High variation in productivity status of crops in different ecologies
 Acute labour shortage and high wage rate of labourers
 High rainfall, undulating topography and intensive agriculture leading to depletion of soil
organic matter.
2.5 EVOLUTION OF URBAN AGRICULTURE
2.5.1 EVOLUTION IN USA
Reviewing the history of urban agriculture in United States of America & changes within farming
practices over the past century, it was found that urban agriculture surged in response to energy
shortages. Perhaps the current sustainability movement will shape urban agriculture into a
lasting food production model. From the fig 2.9 it is found that the work force engaged in urban
agriculture has gradually reduced from 41% to 1.9% during a period of 100 years and hence the
number of farms has also reduced three times. So in order to meet the growing demand, they
have increased the size of the farms. Hence the farms are three times more in size that it was
100 years ago. This was mainly achieved due to adapting technologies like hydroponics,

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aquaponics, etc. Now most of the farming workforce involved are in urban areas. Due to
advancement in technology and awareness to acquire healthy food, there are even small
community farms, institutional farms, etc.
2.5.2 EVOLUTION IN KERALA
As per the records of farmers in Kerala, the agricultural lands in Kerala also declined after the
growth of urbanization, as for now the agricultural farms are very few. Due to lack of proper
policies from the government to provide subsidy to farmers & also lack of regulations to control
the transformation of agricultural areas into housing units. But even in Kerala their small-scale
farmers in urban areas also, they have developed their own techniques and methods, as per
their experience or as per the knowledge that was passed own from generations. Due to support
from the government, most of the individual, small scale, urban farmers, have been able to
develop their farming practices. Due to the adaptation of organic farming practices, the
government have been giving more support to these farmers and also attracting more others to
it. These programs will help in bringing urban agriculture to a wider context.
2.6 URBAN SPACE
2.6.1 INTRODUCTION TO URBAN SPACE

In the past, cities and towns have been established in areas that had secure water and energy

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supplies and fertile lands for food production. The burgeoning population growth and expansion
of urban centres worldwide has placed increasing pressure on potable water supplies, energy
and food supplies and the ecosystems services on which the community and the liveability of the
community depend. Demographic defines an urban area as a continuously built-up land mass of
urban development that is within a labour market (i.e., metropolitan area or metropolitan region),
without regard for administrative boundaries. According to the report by Demographic, there are
875 identified urban areas in the world with 500,000 or more population as of 2013.
2.6.2 EMERGENCE OF URBAN SPACE

“Managing urban areas has become one of the most important development challenges of the
21st century. Our success or failure in building sustainable cities will be a major factor in the
success of the post-2015 UN development agenda” (John Wilmoth, 2014)
According to UN DESA’s report in 1990, there were ten “mega-cities” with 10 million inhabitants
or more, which were home to 153 million people or slightly less than seven per cent of the global
urban population at that time. In 2014, there are 28 mega-cities worldwide, home to 453 million
people or about 12% of the world’s urban dwellers. Of today’s 28 mega-cities, sixteen are
located in Asia, four in Latin America, three each in Africa and Europe, and two in Northern
America. By 2030, the world is projected to have 41 mega-cities with 10 million inhabitants or
more (Wilmoth, 2014).
2.6.2.1 UNCONTROLLED GROWTH OF SMALL CITIES

Overall, nearly half of the world’s 3.9 billion urban dwellers reside in relatively small settlements

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with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, while only around one in eight live in the 28 mega-cities
with 10 million inhabitants or more. Many of the fastest growing cities in the world are relatively
small urban settlements.
2.6.2.2 DECLINE OF RURAL POPULATION

The rural population of the world has grown slowly since 1950 and is expected to reach its peak
around 2020. The global rural population is now close to 3.4 billion and is expected to decline to
3.1 billion by 2050. While Africa and Asia are urbanizing rapidly, the regions are still home to
nearly 90% of the world’s rural population. India has the largest rural population with 857 million,
followed by China with 635 million.
2.6.2.3 SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION

Cities offer important opportunities for economic development and for expanding access to basic
services, including health care and education, for large numbers of people. Providing public
transportation, as well as housing, electricity, water and sanitation for a densely settled urban
population is typically cheaper and less environmentally damaging than providing a similar level
of services to a dispersed rural population.
2.6.3 PERI-URBAN SPACE

Peri-urban spaces relates to an area immediately surrounding a city or town. (Leo Marquard,
2009). They are traditionally approached as land for urban sprawl (Gorakhpur Environmental
Action Group, 2010). It can be described as the landscape interface between town and country,
or also as the rural—urban transition zone where urban and rural uses mix and often clash
(Griffiths, Michael. B., 2010). It can thus be viewed as a landscape type in its own right, one
forged from an interaction of urban and rural land use.
The boundaries of peri-urban areas are porous and transitory as urban development extends
into rural and industrial land. Irrespective of how the boundaries move there will always be peri-
urban zones. (University of western Sydney, 2014)
Development of peri-urban areas involves the conversion of rural lands to residential use, closer
subdivision, fragmentation and a changing mix of urban and rural activities and functions.
Changes within these areas can have significant impacts upon agricultural uses and productivity,
environmental amenity and natural habitat, supply and quality of water and energy consumption.
These changes affect the peri-urban areas themselves and the associated urban and rural

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environments. (University of western Sydney, 2014)
2.7 BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE
2.7.1 URBAN AGRICULTURE IN WORLD LEVEL

Today’s current food system is unsustainable economically, environmentally and socially. The
world’s rural and centralized food production uses a vast amount of resources—land, water,
transportation— which will become increasingly scarce and expensive as world populations
grow and continue to urbanize.
At the same time these resources diminish, demand for local safe and fresh food will increase,
and current food production levels will be required to double by 2050 to support the world’s
population.
Urban agriculture can be defined shortly as the growing of plants and the raising of animals
within and around cities. The most striking feature of urban agriculture, which distinguishes it
from rural agriculture is that it can be integrated into the urban economic and ecological system.
Urban agriculture is not a relic of the past that will fade away (urban agriculture increases when
the city grows) nor brought to the city by rural immigrants that will lose their rural habits over
time. It is an integral part of the urban system.
2.7.1.1 POPULATION GROWTH

Of the current population of 6.5 billion, nearly 1 billion are undernourished. According to the UN's
Food and Agriculture Organization, the world needs to double its current level of food production
to support a population of 9 billion by 2050. Given finite arable land, fuel and water supplies,
vertical farming is the only solution to meeting this global challenge.
2.7.1.2 URBANIZATION
Over 80% of the 9 billion population in 2050 will live in urban centres. Increased transportation
miles are not sustainable. Urban farming is the only solution to meeting this distribution
challenge.
2.7.1.3 LIMITED RESOURCES

Nearly all of the world's arable land is already in use. On-going soil erosion and expanding
urbanization contribute to the continuous loss of cropland. Areas with the highest population’s
growths suffer from the most extreme climates, such as the Middle East. Water scarcity is

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already a life-threatening issue, affecting 1 in 3 people globally. Resource efficient technology is

the only solution for providing the level of food required facing finite and dwindling resources.
2.7.1.4 CLIMATE CHANGE

Scientists predict that Climate Change will result in drastic floods and droughts destroying
traditional farmland. Three recent floods alone cost the US billions of dollars in lost crops.
Changes in rain patterns and temperature could diminish India’s agricultural output by 30% by
the end of the century. The world needs a sustainable solution that is no longer susceptible to
weather conditions or seasonality.
2.7.1.5 HEALTH ASPECT

Obesity remains a deadly epidemic that continues to spread, with 2/3 of the US considered
overweight. In comparison, over 1 billion people globally are undernourished.
From the above statistics, it is certain that the main causes of death like, heart diseases,
cancers, stroke, etc. are due to conditions caused by unhealthy & unhygienic diet, & also due to
obesity in the US. The main food brands in the US are spread around the world and they are the
main brands in the global level also. So similar problems could be expected in the developing
countries, even India.

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2.7.2 DIMENSIONS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE IN CITIES
2.7.2.1 TYPES OF ACTORS INVOLVED

Large part of the people involved in urban agriculture is the urban poor. Contrary to general
belief they are often not recent immigrants from rural areas (since the urban farmer needs time
to get access to urban land, water and other productive resources). In many cities, one will often
also find lower and mid-level government officials, school teachers and others involved in
agriculture, as well as richer people who are seeking a good investment for their capital.
Senior citizens are a central part of urban agriculture, it provides a platform for tapping into
their wisdom and experience, and creating a structure for their knowledge to be passed on.
Women constitute an important part of urban farmers, since agriculture and related processing
and selling activities, among others, can often be more easily combined with their other tasks in
the household. It is however more difficult to combine it with urban jobs that require travelling to
the town centre, industrial areas or to the houses of the rich.
2.7.2.2 TYPES OF LOCATION

Urban agriculture may take place in locations inside the cities (intra-urban) or in the peri urban
areas. The activities may take place on the homestead (on-plot) or on land away from the
residence (off-plot), on private land (owned, leased) or on public land (parks, conservation
areas, along roads, streams and railways), or semi-public land (schoolyards, grounds of schools
and hospitals).
2.7.2.3 TYPES OF PRODUCTS GROWN

Urban agriculture includes food products, from different types of crops (grains, root crops,
vegetables, mushrooms, fruits) and animals (poultry, rabbits, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, guinea
pigs, fish, etc.) as well as non-food products (like aromatic and medicinal herbs, ornamental
plants, tree products, etc.) or combinations of these. Often the more perishable and relatively
high-valued vegetables and animal products and by-products are favoured.
Production units in urban agriculture in general tend to be more specialised than rural
enterprises, and exchanges are taking place across production units.
2.7.2.4 TYPES OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Urban agriculture includes agricultural production activities as well as related processing and

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marketing activities as well as inputs (e.g., compost) and services delivery (e.g., animal health
services) by specialised micro-enterprises or NGOs, etc. In urban agriculture, production and
marketing tend to be more closely interrelated in terms of time and space than for rural agriculture,
thanks to greater geographic proximity and quicker resource flow.
2.7.2.5 PRODUCT DESTINATION / DEGREE OF MARKET ORIENTATION

In most cities in developing countries, an important part of urban agricultural production is for
self-consumption, with surpluses being traded. However, the importance of the market-oriented
urban agriculture, both in volume and economic value, should not be underestimated. Products
are sold at the farm gate, by cart in the same or other neighbourhoods, in local shops, on local
(farmers) markets or to intermediaries and supermarkets. Mainly fresh products are sold, but
part of it is processed for own use, cooked and sold on the streets, or processed and packaged
for sale to one of the outlets mentioned above.
2.7.2.6 SCALES OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY USED

In the city, we may encounter individual or family farms, group or cooperative farms and commercial
enterprises at various scales ranging from micro- and small farms (the majority) to medium-sized
and some large-scale enterprises. The technological level of the majority of urban agriculture
enterprises in developing countries is still rather low. However, the tendency is towards more
technically advanced and intensive agriculture and various examples of such can be found in all
cities.
2.7.3 MAIN BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

The benefits of urban agriculture vary from health and environmental to economic and social.
SOCIAL BENEFITS:
 Helps bring families and communities together
 Creating direct access to seasonal, fresh, and culturally appropriate vegetables
 Teaches people life skills such as how to be more self-sufficient.
 Helps combat hunger
 Creates a connection between foods, how it is grown, where it is grown
 Educate people, who have been increasingly removed from food production, to participate
in, and respect, its generation
 Encouraging local stores and vendors to carry higher quality goods sale
 Opening up food based opportunities for micro-businesses to be developed, such as
canning & pickling
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 Increases surrounding property values, beautifies vacant properties, increases a sense of

community, and provides recreational and cultural uses
 The engagement of older citizens in environmental issues will promote their participation
in the City's various "green" activities
 Increases physical activity and educates new gardeners on the many facets of food
production from food security to nutrition and preparation of fresh foods
ECONOMICAL BENEFITS:
 Creates jobs and income from otherwise completely unproductive space
 Can be beneficial to people of any income group
 Creates a better local economy that does not rely on food from far away
 Makes use of valuable resources, such as compost, that would otherwise go to waste in a
city
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
 Greens up the city
 growing food organically is very beneficial for the soil
 Can help to clean air and rain water
 Helps to stop erosion and topsoil removal
 Has direct impacts on urban ecology
 Facilitates reuse of wastes for food production
 Increases the amount of food grown and bought locally, decreasing carbon footprint.
2.8 TYPES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

Each urban agriculture project arises in response to the particular needs and opportunities of a
given community, organization, or site. No two growing spaces are alike—they may be
maintained by volunteers or paid staff, have budgets of a couple hundred or hundreds of
thousands of dollars, and be affiliated with one of a dozen different entities that control the land.
The different types of Urban Agriculture are explained providing case studies from the New York
City:

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2.8.1 INSTITUTIONAL FARMS AND GARDENS

A farm or garden affiliated with an institution (such as hospitals, churches, prisons, schools,
public housing) whose primary mission is not food production, but which have goals that urban
agriculture supports, comes under Institutional farms and gardens. There are an estimated 289
New York City schools with active gardens, of which, 117 grow food (Grow NYC, August 2011)

27
According to New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), public housing residents maintain
approximately 600 gardens, of which, 245 grow food. Other institutional farms and gardens in
New York City are a 2.5 acre on Rikers Island, a farm on the roof of the Bowery Mission, and a
rooftop garden at Georgia's Place, a supportive housing facility in Crown Heights.
2.8.1.1 HELL’S KITCHEN FARM PROJECT

The Hell’s kitchen farm project is a 1,000 sq. Ft. farm located on the roof of the Metro Baptist
Church, New York whose mission is to provide a food secure neighbourhood for the residents of
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. It is an Institutional Farm or Garden.
METHOD OF FARMING:
The farm operates on the 4,000 square foot roof of Metro Baptist Church. They grow in 52 raised
beds (plastic kiddie pools), which provide 1,000 square feet of growing area. Holes were drilled
into the bottom of each bed to facilitate drainage.
The Kiddie Pools are used to grow the vegetables. They are durable, affordable and
lightweight. This design is so simple it can be created anywhere. It is important that our design is
easy to replicate so we can continue to grow more food all over the neighbourhood. Add soil and
they are ready to grow.
COMPOSTING METHOD:
They use a combination of anaerobic and aerobic composting on the farm. Indoor (anaerobic):
Food scraps are mixed with Bokashi bran and sealed in 5 gallon buckets for at least 2 weeks.
Outdoor (aerobic): Afterwards, those food scraps, along with plant material from the farm, are
put into 2 composting tumblers on the roof.
TYPES OF PLANTS GROWN:
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Beans, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Oregano, Peas, Peppers,
Potatoes, Radishes, Rosemary, Scallions, Tomatoes
ROOFTOP CHALLENGES:
During the first growing season, the biggest challenge they faced was that of the new plants,
when left unprotected, often ended up as pigeon dinner. They found that with some wire mesh
and netting, the pigeons could be kept at bay, and their veggies were free to flourish.
2.8.2 COMMERCIAL FARMS

In general, commercial farmers try to maximize crop performance in order to achieve profitability,
however, some share many of the health and ecological goals of the broader urban agriculture
community. As of July 2012, there were only three for-profit farms in New York City. Eagle Street
Rooftop Farm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn Grange and Gotham Greens, both in Long Island City,
Queens (Urban Design Lab, 2012).
2.8.2.1 RIVERPARK COMMERCIAL FARM

Located on the future development site of the Alexandria Centre for Life Science in Manhattan,
Riverpark Farm supplies fresh, local produce to the adjacent Riverpark Restaurant and creates a
unique green space. It is one of the largest Urban Farming models in New York.

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DESIGN APPROACH:
In planning Riverpark Farm, the design was done in collaboration with ORE Technology +
Design to create a concept that uses sustainable, economic, portable and flexible approaches to
urban farming. Their solution was to use recycled milk crates redesigned as planters that fit
closely together for the best use of space. Vegetables, herbs, and flowers grown at the Farm
were specially selected based on their ability to thrive when planted in double-stacked milk
crates and grow in an urban environment.
COMPOSTING
Clean food waste from the kitchen was composted and used to fertilize the Farm throughout the
seasons. Other organic fertilization methods, such as compost team, mulching with cocoa husk
to maintain soil moisture and provide extra nitrogen to tomato plants, and planting winter rye
(cover crop) to sustain the Farm's soil until spring were used.
RIVERPARK FARM STATISTICS:
Riverpark farm has got 1 urban farmer, 2 farm locations, more than 100 types of growing plants,
has got more than 1000 visitors between April and September and for continuous 3 three
seasons, they provide fresh produce to Riverpark restaurant.

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2.8.3 COMMUNITY GARDENS
Virtually all of the New York CitǇ’s 490 community gardens are located on publicly-owned land
or land trusts. Typically managed by local resident volunteers, roughly 80% of these gardens
grow food. There are more than 490 community gardens in New York City, covering just under
100 acres in total area [Urban Design Lab, 2011]. Most of these gardens provide space for
several different activities, including growing vegetables and flowers, as well as providing
gathering space for socializing.
2.8.3.1 ESSEX GARDEN COMMUNITY

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Established in 1996 by local gardeners, the centrepiece of the Essex Street Community Garden is a
series of large, raised planting beds enclosed by low stone walls that provide ample space for
cultivating vegetables and herbs. The size of garden is about 3,268 Sq. Ft. Community members
use planter beds to grow everything from peppers and tomatoes to eggplant and oregano, while
additional beds located along the wall and fence bordering the garden are used f-or ornamental
plantings, including apple, pear & peach. Crushed gravel paths weave around and between planting
areas, which are sustained by a rainwater collection system that diverts storm water runoff from the
sewers of adjacent buildings.
2.8.4 COMMUNITY FARMS

Community farms are communal growing spaces operated by a non-profit organization that
engages the surrounding community in food production but also social and educational
programming. Examples of community farms in New York City include Added Value's Red Hook
Community Farm, Bed Study farm, East New York Farm, Hands and Heart Garden, Hattie
Cathan Community Garden, and La Finca del Sur.
2.8.4.1 PHOENIX COMMUNITY FARM
The 19,000 square foot Phoenix Community Garden is dedicated to urban agriculture and is
capable of producing (in season), nearly 2,000 pounds of beans, corn, collards, cabbage,
tomatoes, zucchini, herbs and Callao (a Caribbean favourite).
A section of the garden grows food for Neighbours Together, a local organization that serves
over 500 people each day at a soup kitchen across the street from the garden. The east part of
the garden features a grape arbour and a large gazebo, while a red tin shed, mural, and a 2000
gallon rainwater harvesting system at the western part.
RAINWATER HARVESTING

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Rainwater is collected from the roof of the adjacent 1,200 square foot 4 story building and stored
in 2 - 1000 gallon green polyethylene tanks located on a 14 inch high platform made of 4 X 4s
placed on gravel bed adjacent to the building on the eastern end of the garden. The system uses
a 12 gallon first flush system to filter the rainwater. Overflow is piped under pathways in the
garden.
So these are the main types of urban agriculture that is practiced. The names used may
change but the concept behind each type of urban agriculture is the same, throughout
the world.
2.9 URBAN AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES

The food that we produce at our homes is better, as it isn't part of the agricultural industry, which
is a huge consumer of natural resources. If you have a bit of space, urban agriculture is a great
way to reduce your carbon footprint and your food costs. Not only that, it's often healthier and
even tastes better. Now Urban Agriculture is very popular around the world, and people have
developed wonderful ideas and techniques that enhances the growth of Urban Agriculture
throughout the world. Some of the main techniques are Aeroponics, Aquaponics, Hydroponics,
Poly houses, window farms etc.
2.9.1 HYDROPONICS
Hydroponics is a subset of hydro culture and is a method of growing plants using mineral
nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the
mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel. The two main types
of hydroponics are solution culture and medium culture. 2.9.1.1 SOLUTION CULTURE

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Solution culture does not use a solid medium for the roots, just the nutrient solution. The three
main types of solution cultures are static solution culture, continuous-flow solution culture and
Aeroponics.
2.9.1.2 MEDIUM CULTURE

Medium culture method has a solid medium for the roots and is named for the type of medium,
e.g., sand culture, gravel culture, or rock wool culture. There are two main variations for each
medium, sub-irrigation and top irrigation. For all techniques, most hydroponic reservoirs are now
built of plastic, but other materials have been used including concrete, glass, metal, vegetable
solids, and wood. The containers should exclude light to prevent algae growth in the nutrient
solution. The Function of a thin film hydroponic system is explained in the figure below.

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2.9.2 AEROPONICS
Aeroponics is a cutting-edge type of hydroponic technology that grows plants in a mist. The
aeroponic mist, most efficiently provides roots with the nutrients, hydration and oxygen needed.
Aerobars™ has designed its aeroponic system to reduce water consumption through nutrient re-
circulation. Compared to soil-based methods, aeroponics consumes significantly less water due
to the aeroponic system's direct application of nutrients to the roots. Some of the features of the
Aero Farms is mentioned below.
2.9.2.1 CLOTH MEDIUM

Aero Farms has developed a proprietary, reusable cloth medium. Our systems employ cloth as a
conveyor for plants from one end of the aeroponic system where they are seeded to the other
end where they are harvested. Cloth has a number of benefits such as durability and reusability,
increased cleanliness and sanitation, and the efficient harvest of a dry and clean product.
2.9.2.2 LED LIGHTING

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Aero Farms is pioneering the use of LED (light emitting diode) lighting for growing and vertical
farming systems. LEDs have nearly five times more life expectancy than HPS lighting, resulting
in a much lower total cost of ownership. LEDs can also be designed in linear and rectangular
shapes that enable complete yield uniformity in vertical farming, compared to an HPS bulb that
unevenly distributes light to the crop.
The table above explains the efficiency of Aero Farms over other growing methods.
2.9.3 AQUAPONICS

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Aquaponics is a food production system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic
animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in
water) in a symbiotic environment. In normal aquaculture, excretions from the animals being raised
can accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity. In an aquaponic system, water from an aquaculture
system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by nitrogen-fixing
bacteria into nitrates and nitrites, which are utilized by the plants as nutrients. The water is then
recirculated back to the aquaculture system.
Aquaponics consists of two main parts, the aquaculture part for raising aquatic animals and the
hydroponics part for growing plants. Aquatic effluents, resulting from uneaten feed or raising
animals like fish, accumulate in water due to the closed-system recirculation of most aquaculture
systems.
The effluent-rich water becomes toxic to the aquatic animal in high concentrations but these
effluents are nutrients essential for plant growth. Although consisting primarily of these two parts,
aquaponics systems are usually grouped into several components or subsystems responsible
for the effective removal of solid wastes, for adding bases to neutralize acids, or for maintaining
water oxygenation.

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2.9.4 POLY HOUSE/ GREEN HOUSE
A poly house (also known as a poly tunnel, hoop greenhouse or hoop house, or high tunnel) is a
tunnel made of polyethylene, usually semi-circular, square or elongated in shape. The interior
heats up because incoming solar radiation from the sun warms plants, soil, and other things
inside the building, faster than heat can escape the structure. Air warmed by the heat from hot
interior surfaces is retained in the building by the roof and wall. Temperature, humidity and
ventilation can be controlled by equipment fixed in the poly house. Poly house can be used to
provide a higher temperature and/or humidity than that which is available in the environment but
can also protect crops from intense heat, bright sunlight, strong winds, hailstones and cold
waves. This allows fruits and vegetables to be grown at times usually considered off season.
Every factor influencing a crop can be controlled in a poly house. Poly house are often used in
floriculture and nurseries as the economic value of flowers can justify their expense.
2.9.4.1 ADVANTAGES OF GREENHOUSE / POLY HOUSE FARMING

Crops can be grown under adverse climatic conditions when it is not possible to grow them in
open field. Certain crops can be grown round the year in a particular place for continuous
supply. Production of uniform quality crops. Productivity is 8 to 10 times higher than the crops
grown in open fields. Management of insect pests, diseases and weeds is easier under these
structures. These structures are ideally suited for small farmers and unemployed youth from
rural areas. Organic farming is easier under these structures. Any type of land can be used for
erection of these structures. Rising of nursery for developing seedlings is possible under these
structures. Precise irrigation and fertilization as well as export oriented production is also
possible, under these structures.

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CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY

3.1 LITERATURE CASE STUDY
3.1.1 URBAN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK

Urban agriculture is gaining traction in many cities across the U.S. The movement is generating the
greatest amount of excitement and interest places like Detroit, Cincinnati, and other Rust Belt cities
suffering from decades of economic decline and population loss, where reclaiming the vast areas of
vacant or abandoned land through farming is a component of renewed efforts toward revitalization.
The situation in NYC, of course, is quite different.
Area: 1,214 km2
Population: 8 million
Weather: -2 to 28°C
Wind: 5 to 7km/h
Humidity: 60 to 68%
While the potential benefits of urban agriculture are wide-ranging, the primary focus of interest
remains the production of food within and for urban communities and the effects on food access and
health. The basic types of rooftop agriculture, green roofs and rooftop greenhouses, can both
decrease the energy necessary to heat and cool buildings.

39
From fig 3.3, it is understood that, New York City being an urbanized area, meets its food demands
from the croplands & pasturelands of Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia & Baltimore, all these regions
are more than 100 miles away from the centre of New York City. So the oil burned in transporting
food is so huge that, the impact it have on the environment is catastrophic. Hence urban agriculture
will help in meeting the food demands as well as avoid the environmental impacts, due to
transporting food from far away regions.

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Due to many sustainable movements, throughout the New York City, mainly towards the western
part, urban agriculture has flourished. Almost all types of urban agriculture have been seen to exist
in the New York City. Details about the different types of urban agriculture that is present in New
York City has been explained in section 2.8. Due to development urban agriculture in New York
City, it has substantially helped to promote a healthy life style for the present as well as the
generation to come. Also has helped to shape the methods of farming, to be more organic.
3.1.2 URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITIES IN ROSARIO, ARGENTINA

Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, in central Argentina. It is located 300 km
northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River.
Area: 178 km²
Weather: 19°C to 30°C
Humidity: 67%
Wind: 5 to 7km/h
Population: 1 million
It has got poverty levels of 60%, in that 22 % is extreme poor. In 2011, it had an urban population of
about 92.5% of total population. By the end of 2000 it was hit by an economic crisis and the
municipality and social people got interest in Urban Agriculture. To confront the worst financial crisis
in the history of the country, every Argentinean has been on the lookout for a solution. In Rosario,
the solutions took the form of cooperation. A sustainable ecological and social project was
launched, making it possible to provide forty thousand people with vegetables and herbs grown
without chemicals (RAUF, 2010). They adopted the following methods to incorporating urban
agriculture.
3.1.2.1 METHODS ADOPTED FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE

 Strengthen production of crops
 Security Access to Land
 Construction of agro-industries (by rehabilitating old city infrastructure)
 Integration of urban agriculture policies in the city urban development and strategic
plan
 Strengthen commercialization of Products
 Multifunctional use of open spaces

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3.1.2.2 IMPACTS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE
 Improving the environment

 Rehabilitating waste-lands
 Organized urban producers
 Their food security is secured, diets improved
 10.000 households are participating in the program
 They earn an additional 90-150 US$/ month from their agricultural activities
3.1.3 NORC FARM, NEW YORK, USA
A naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) is a unique housing model located at Red
Hook, Brooklyn, New York, USA that allows older adults to live in the community rather than an
institutional setting. (Age Friendly NYC, 2009). New York City has over 1.3 million people over the
age of 60 and this population is expected to grow by 50% in the next 25 years (New York City
housing Authority, 2010). NORC FARMS locates seniors at the centre, tapping into their wisdom
and experience, and creating a structure for their knowledge to be passed on. The average income
for a single senior citizen in New York is $10,450 a year. It was easier to get tobacco in the
neighbourhoods of Brooklyn than it is to get a tomato (Age Friendly NYC, 2009), this was one of the
main reasons for the formation of NORC FARMS.
3.1.3.1 NORC FARMS HAS HELPED TO:

 Activate older new Yorkers and transform public housing with local agriculture

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 Use urban agriculture to transform public places into socially, ecologically, economically
productive space
 Activate older New Yorkers and transform public housing with local agriculture
 Plug into the existing social and institutional infrastructure
 achieve the city’s stated “age-friendly” goals:
o improve social inclusion, civic participation, and employment opportunities for older adults
o increase availability and affordability of safe, appropriate housing
o provide age-friendly public spaces and safe means for reaching them
o ensure access to health and social services to support independent living
3.1.3.2 DESIGN STRATEGY NORC
Farms is an innovative strategy to create and cultivate farm plots and social spaces within public
housing complexes with senior populations. Flexible in nature, it will be responsive to the particulars
of each social and spatial context, developing programs and designs calibrated to the local
community. A core component has been the creative partnership established between teams of
professionals and the NORCs or local senior centres. A landscape architect, a regional farmer, and
a community program director has worked collaboratively to support, design and guide the NORC
Farm process. Another core component has been the kit-of-parts, which included container
greenhouses, raised planter boxes, tool sheds that was made available to the NORC Farm. The
focus of the kit-of-parts was to create a universal and age-friendly design. The biggest crisis in their
food system was the lack of access to good, healthy, fresh food, for people living in cities,
particularly in low-income communities. Urban agriculture work is one of the most powerful
solutions, because it brings food directly into the communities (Anna Lappé, 2010), this was one of
the main reasons for urban agriculture to be successful.
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CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS
It is found from the studies that, in the global context the urban agriculture was incorporated either
to promote a healthy life style (in developed countries) or to achieve economic stability & food
security (in developing countries). In the Indian context, the urban agriculture is incorporated in most
places to promote a healthy life style within the space constrains (in urban areas) and to achieve
economic stability & food security (in Peri urban areas). Policies at different levels can help to
incorporate the concepts of Urban Agriculture better. Better policies will help the citizens to adapt to
the new changes easily. The policies should be formulated with the help of architects, town planner,
urban designers, Govt. agencies and also the local people.
4.1 SPATIAL ASPECTS

In the global examples it was found that, the urban agriculture in practiced not just in rooftops &
terraces, but in community farms, institutional canters, also along with community gardens & parks.
This wide spread of urban agriculture is due to the involvement of people from all walks of life from
farmer, senior citizens, health conscious people to government agencies, NGO’s, architects, urban
planners etc.
In the Indian examples it was found that, it’s mostly limited to terrace gardens & roof tops (in urban
spaces), and in as farm lands (in peri urban areas). There are only a smaller number of projects that
are related to urban agriculture in India and the main participation has been seen from senior
citizens, people from a farming background, some health-conscious people and some environment
conscious architects.
It was found from the studies that, the combination of the vegetable garden & flowering garden in
terraces, made the terrace spaces more aesthetical as well as productive. So in times of need of
food, the users can look to terrace garden as a space that provides them self-satisfaction by
providing the users with healthy & organic food. But when the users are in a tensed state, they can
also turn to the garden for relief as it helps to calm & please the mind & body. So the main
challenge will be combination of the vegetable & flowering garden in the limited space of the
terraces, balconies, etc. The combination will bring a feel of belonging to the garden, as well as
make the space feel more attractive. Also the maintenance can also be done together.
4.2 TECHNICAL ASPECTS

In the global examples it was studied that, the systems are more technology dependent, where as in
the Indian examples it is more of simple techniques utilizing mostly reused rubber sheets, polythene
etc.
In the global examples, the planting is done also on kiddie pools, self-designed planter boxes to
vertical window farms, stacked planted boxes etc and the most common techniques include
hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics etc. The methods incorporated include simple & automated
systems that has help to bring an order & aesthetics to the farms.
In the Indian examples, the planting is done on reused rubber box, plastic bag, coir bags, thermos
coal boxes, Sili Paulin sheets to planter boxes (in apartment level). In rare cases, even the grey
water
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is reused by passing it through a reed drum system and use of eco san toilets helps to provide
compost & natural fertilizers for the farm. The commonly used methods include drip irrigation
systems for passing the fertilizers, poly houses to protect from the external climatic changes (in
Alappuzha Dist.) and the wrapping of industrial sheet on all four sides to cut the excessive heat (in
Alappuzha Dist.).
From the studies, it was found that hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics & poly house technology is
very much suitable for cases were farming in terraces is an afterthought.
Regarding the soil depth, it was found that an average depth of 30cm to 40cm (planter depth of
45cm to 50cm) is required for growing the vegetables (including the layers of fertilizers & other
layers). While for growing the paddy a total depth of 40cm to 45cm is required. Also it was found
from the studies that, all the planter boxes are raised from the floor and drain holes are provided in
the planter boxes. Also the slabs, (in most cases) are painted with white cement after each harvest
period, to waterproof it. But for growing paddy two layers of Silpaulin Tarpaulin is used to waterproof
the floor.
4.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

A 30cm think plant bed is equivalent to an insulation layer, which reduces the heat gain to a great
extent. Also it helps in, reduction of indoor temperature, improvement of air quality and reduction in
surface runoff (in farm lands). Methods of grey water reuse, using reed drum systems will provide
water to the plants. This helps to meet the need of irrigating of the plants and also helps to reduce
the environmental waste, by the use of eco san toilets to use urine and excreta as fertilizers.
4.4 SOCIAL ASPECTS

In the global examples it was found that, the urban agriculture programs have helped to rebuild
bonds between communities, better interaction between people from different walks of life, from
farmer, senior citizens, health-conscious people to government agencies, NGO’s, architect’s, urea
players. Also has helped to transforms the swaths of poorly maintained grass, creating active social
spaces, new connections to the exterior, and access to fresh healthy food.
In the Indian context, the majority of the family system is nuclear & men and women are working. So
there is a need for a change in lifestyle, which demands for a community level approach for urban
agriculture at the household level. But there are also lots of Government programs to encourage
people to produce their own food to lead a healthy life style. In apartments or residential
neighbourhoods, there is a need for a system that helps in maintenance of urban agriculture.

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CHAPTER 5: INFERENCE
5.1 DESIGN GUIDELINES
5.1.1 RESIDENTIAL LEVEL
5.1.1.1 PRE CONSTRUCTION

In the residential design before construction the following guidelines can be undertaken:
 Planter boxes or planter beds can be incorporated in design

 Inverted beams in the construction of roof slab can act as planter beds
 Planter boxes with depth of 45cm has to be provided (Minimum soil depth to be 30cm)
 The spaces for farming vegetables should get good sunlight (minimum of 6 hours)
 Watering can be provided through drip irrigation of through a system of grey water recycling
 Proper drain has to be provided for the garden to allow to water seepage
 The drains are either provided at the slab level or at the level of planting medium

46
5.1.1.2 POST CONSTRUCTION

In the residential design post construction the following guidelines can be undertaken:
 Use of silpaulin sheets as damp proofing material

 Use of thermos coal box, rubber box, plastic cover, rice sack for planting the plants
 Use of eco san toilet to provide cost effective fertilizer
 Use of reed drum systems to economically clean grey water, that could be used for watering can
be provided as an afterthought also.
5.1.2 COMMUNITY LEVEL

PHASE 1: FARM FINDER: what can be cultivated? Identify open land at the site, and appropriate
plant species for the group and location. Identify the farmers and group them together by
programmes & other activities.
PHASE 2: SEEDLING SITES: Make the space visible and central Create the catalyst by identifying
social gathering areas that overlap planting zones to create spatial connections between community
farmers and residents.
PHASE 3: PLUG IN FARMING:
Identify De-centralized farming spaces De-centralized farming spaces will be encouraged, they can
be window farms, terrace farming, etc. Gardens can be built in empty lots, on top of buildings, on
steep slopes and river banks, all examples of spaces that would otherwise be unproductive. These
minute farming spaces will help in the expansion of the urban agricultural activities throughout.

47
PHASE 4: LINK FARMING
Groups throughout the urban space and beyond (peri urban space) can adopt the community Farm
strategy, this will help to create a connection between the urban farmers and the peri-urban farmers.
This way both the farmers will benefit.
PHASE 5: CITYWIDE FARMING
Once the farming has been successful and the demands for organic vegetables increase, vertical
buildings in the urban spaces, can be constructed solely for the process of producing processing,
collection and distribution of organic vegetables in a large scale. Such that these buildings
enhances the productivity of minute farming spaces and promotes the development of community,
by providing food to the poor sections of the society.
5.1.3 TOWN/CITY LEVEL

 Find available public or private land for growing food
 A landscape architect, a regional farmer, and a community program director needs to work
collaboratively to support, design and guide the Farm process.

48
 Sites ranging from former auto-manufacturing sites, industrial complexes, and whole
neighbourhoods, down to small individual lots, including commercial and residential areas, are
being considered as potential sites for growing food. The industrial areas will have to be reclaimed
and the soil will have to be replenished with fertilizers, based on the type of industry.
5.1.3.1 STEP OF SITE SELECTION

 Before deciding whether to garden on a site, it is important to research its history, because a site
may have a range of contaminants depending on its past uses.
 Once the past uses have been determined, there are options for testing, clean-up or exposure
management approaches which prospective urban farmers can utilize in order to garden safely
5.2 POLICIES TO IMPLIMENT URBAN AGRICULTURE
5.2.1 RESIDENTIAL LEVEL

 Involvement of State agricultural dept. to promote program for attracting people to use more of
organic food & also measures to produce food at home
 Govt. can set aside subsidies in electricity bill for residents performing vegetable gardens/ farming,
just like there is already a subsidy for renewable energy use.
5.2.1.1 LOCATION OF VEGETABLE GARDENS
The high cost of land in urban areas has caused reappraisal of usable space on the roof of

49
building. Flat space, whether above underground structures or on levels above the street, is
expensive to obtain. Consequently, the development and use of roof areas is rapidly becoming an
economic necessity.
Vegetable gardens/ farms can be provided in terraces, balconies or ever in the setback space of
buildings. Terrace spaces get 6 hrs. of good sunlight, but protection from wind & rain should be
provided. While in indoor spaces light is a main problem. Even in plots these can be incorporated
but the spaces selected in plot level should get enough sunlight.
5.2.2 TOWN OR CITY LEVEL

 Providing rules or guidelines, so that healthy food access will be available initially in:
o 250 meters radius

o 400 metres radius
o 800 metres radius
 The incorporation of local stores and vendors to carry higher quality goods produced by
communities in urban & peri- urban areas
 Development of food based opportunities for micro-businesses to flourish, such as canning &
pickling
 In cities where there are unused open spaces in residential or commercial buildings govt. or
NGO, who would like to promote urban agriculture could rent the vacant terrace spaces and
execute terrace farming using simple methods that does not need any structural improvement
 For people living in slums or squatter settlements of govt. land, govt. can start an urban agriculture
program. Such that, these people are asked to work in farm sites, near to their residences as a way
of paying to the govt. (in a hygienic way)
 The people from slums, will also get a part of their food from the farms. While the other part will be
used for sale by the govt.

50
CHAPTER 6: RESULT & CONCLUSION
The present situation of urban agriculture in global & Indian context has been analysed and its role
in shaping societies to lead a healthy lifestyle & to create a community, which can resist even in
the period of food crisis has been understood. It has been found that, urban agriculture is not just
about demarcating space for vegetable gardens, but about designing the whole system of how it is
planted, pruned, watered and harvested. There can be innovative architectural solutions for each
of these aspects to make the whole system a very sustainable solution. There can be better designs
that give them the ability of doing farming without problems of drainage & maintenance made easy
by the incorporation of systems that reuse, reduce & recycle the household waste. The architects
have a very crucial role in help shaping a better lifestyle for the people, so that even though they
don't understand it at the present, they can plug into it in the future by providing the facility initially.
In the coming future, when space becomes very limited in urban areas, urban agriculture could be
incorporated along with apartments or even in high rise buildings, solely for agriculture. By proper
implementation and designing, urban agriculture can help to shape the life of the people as well as
the community for their betterment, strengthening the relationships between the urban and rural
areas, and in completely eradicating food crisis.

51
REFERENCES
1) Bank, W. (2009). Indian Country Overview 2008. World Bank.

2) Bertrand, Y. A. (Director). (2009). Home [Motion Picture].
3) Gopinath. (2008, March). Macroscan. Retrieved from www.macroscan.com
4) Hanasaki. (2008). Counter Currents. Retrieved from
http://www.countercurrents.org/index.htm
5) Ninan, O. A. (2011). The Hindu. Retrieved from http://www.thehindu.com/business/economic-
growth-fails-to-reduceunemployment/article2583212.ece
6) Parliament, I. (2013). Economic Times. Retrieved from
7) http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-08- 30/news/41618996_1_gdp-foodgrains-
allied-sectors
8) Soni, A. (2011). Your Story. Retrieved from http://yourstory.com/2014/03/indianagriculture-
future/
9) Steel, L. (2011). Development Progress. Retrieved from
www.developmentprogress.org/sites/.../viet_nam_report_-_master_0.pdf
10)Suzanne, G. (2009, September 09). The Guardian. Retrieved from Guardian News and
Media Limited : http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/sep/30/foodcrisis-
malnurtrition-climate-change
11)Wikipedia. (2012). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_India
12)Wilmoth, J. (2014). United Nationations Organization. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/world-urbanizationprospects-
2014.html
13)Griffiths, Michael. B., (2010) Retrieved from
http://hup.sub.unihamburg.de/giga/jcca/article/view/253/253
14)University of western Sydney, (2014) Retrieved from http://periurban14.org/
15)United States Environmental Protection (2011) BROWNFIELDS AND URBAN
AGRICULTURE: Agency Interim Guidelines for Safe Gardening Practices Retrieved from
http://www.epa.gov/brownfilds
16)Aero farms (2014) Retrieved from http://aerofarms.com/the-movement IGOFF (2012)
Retrieved from Institute of Global Food & Farming PowerPoint Presentation Document
17)RUAF (2012) Retrieved from http://www.ruaf.org/urban-agriculture-what-and-why NYRP
(2010) Retrieved from https://www.nyrp.org/green-spaces/gardendetails/essex-street-
community-garden/

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URBAN AGRICULTURE IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

2.8.4 COMMUNITY FARMS..............................................................................................................30

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

Table 2.1: Farmers suicide rate in 2011 ……………………….................................10

Table 2.2: projected food supply………………………………………………………. 11

Table 2.3: Per capita net availability of food grains………………………………... 12

Table 5.1: Land use and related contaminants…………………………………….. 51

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

Figure 1.1: Food crises across countries

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

Figure 3.7: Farms in Rosario

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

The Objective is to study:

1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY

1.4 NEED OF THE STUDY

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

1.7 EXPECTED OUTCOME

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 URBAN AGRICULTURE

2.2 EVOLUTION OF AGRICULTURE

2.3 PRESENT STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE WORLD

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.4 PRESENT STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.4.1 LINK OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND AGRICULTURE

2.4.2 PROBLEMS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

2.4.2.1 FARMER’S SUICIDE IN INDIA

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.4.2.2 LACK OF PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FARMERS & AGRICULTURAL

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.4.2.3 INCREASE IN FOOD DEMAND

2.4.3 AGRICULTURE IN KERALA

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.4.3.1 PROBLEMS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE IN KERALA

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

 Low productivity in major crops of Kerala

2.5 EVOLUTION OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

2.5.1 EVOLUTION IN USA

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.5.2 EVOLUTION IN KERALA

2.6 URBAN SPACE

2.6.1 INTRODUCTION TO URBAN SPACE

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.6.2 EMERGENCE OF URBAN SPACE

2.6.2.1 UNCONTROLLED GROWTH OF SMALL CITIES

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

2.6.2.2 DECLINE OF RURAL POPULATION

2.6.2.3 SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION

2.6.3 PERI-URBAN SPACE

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

environments. (University of western Sydney, 2014)

2.7 BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

2.7.1 URBAN AGRICULTURE IN WORLD LEVEL

2.7.1.1 POPULATION GROWTH

2.7.1.3 LIMITED RESOURCES

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19

already a life-threatening issue, affecting 1 in 3 people globally. Resource efficient technology is

2.7.1.4 CLIMATE CHANGE

2.7.1.5 HEALTH ASPECT

DEEPANSHI JAIN, STUDIO’19