Urban and peri-urban agriculture in India has transitioned from a traditional household activity to a critical strategy for climate resilience, economic empowerment, and public health. Analysis across diverse geographies—from the rapid urbanization of Kerala and Chennai to the tribal regions of Maharashtra and flood-prone Eastern Uttar Pradesh—reveals that integrated food systems offer multi-functional benefits.
Innovative practices and models
Success in urban farming is often driven by low-cost, adaptable innovations. Innovative practices and models in urban farming are transforming cities from mere consumers of food into active productive ecosystems. By integrating technology, community-driven social models, and ecological circularity, these initiatives address food security, climate resilience, and livelihood creation.
Urban farming models leverage innovative tools to overcome spatial and environmental constraints. The Chennai Urban Farming Initiative (CUFI) utilizes Mobile Vegetable Garden Kits (MVGK) consisting of grow bags, organic potting soil, and bio-pesticides (Akshaya Ayyangar & Ayesha,p.6). These kits are modular and space-efficient, allowing for cultivation in small urban areas, schools, and Anganwadis. In Kochi, the use of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) grow bags replaced heavy earthen pots, making rooftop farming more practical and scalable on multi-story buildings (Jos & Kannat,p.10). In flood-prone peri-urban areas of Uttar Pradesh, farmers use gunny bags filled with soil and compost to grow vegetables during waterlogging periods. Innovative setups in Kochi combine poultry and mushroom cultivation beneath solar panels, maximizing space by integrating livestock, energy production, and food crops.
New organizational models are connecting producers directly to consumers and creating "green" jobs. The "Madras Mali" Livelihood Model trains women from low-income communities as professional gardening service providers, connecting them with middle-class households through digital campaigns and branding (Akshaya Ayyangar & Ayesha,p.6). In Nandurbar, a subscription-based vegetable supply system connects urban households directly with peri-urban producers, reducing market uncertainty for farmers and ensuring fresh produce for consumers (Shrikant Amrutsagar,p.13). Similarly, the Nattuchantha initiative in Kerala uses Facebook to link home gardeners with local markets for selling small surpluses.
Innovation is also found in how different biological systems are combined to create circular urban metabolisms. Many urban initiatives link food production with decentralized waste management, using portable biogas plants and composting units to recycle kitchen waste into nutrients for gardens.
The governance-level model, “The Edible City" Approach, proposes embedding food production into urban commons, public institutions, and ecological infrastructure, rather than treating it as a fragmented household activity (Anita Pinheiro,p.24).
Climate adaptation and environmental impact
Urban farming serves as a nature-based solution to the environmental stressors of rapid expansion and climate change. In Chennai, a study conducted in 2025 by the Chennai Resilience Centre (CRC) and IIT Madras quantified the cooling potential of rooftop gardens. Rooftop gardens significantly mitigate urban heat, reducing surface temperatures by up to 12°C and indoor temperatures by 1–2°C. The strongest cooling effects were observed during late afternoons and evenings.
Transitioning from mono-cropping to diversified vegetable cultivation is a key strategy for risk mitigation. By planting a variety of seasonal crops, urban and peri-urban farmers ensure that if one crop fails due to climate stress, others may still thrive, thereby stabilizing both food supply and income. In Eastern Uttar Pradesh, farmers utilize "integrated farming" (vegetables, horticulture, and animal husbandry) and innovative techniques like growing vegetables in soil-filled gunny bags during waterlogging periods (p.16).
In Kerala and Chennai, urban farming is intrinsically linked to circular metabolisms. Practices include composting kitchen waste and using PET bottles for drip irrigation, reducing reliance on landfills.
Economic empowerment and Green livelihoods
Urban and peri-urban agriculture provides a viable economic alternative to seasonal labor and land divestment. The Madras Mali program in Chennai illustrates the professionalization of urban farming. By training women from self-help groups in organic gardening and marketing, the initiative has generated nearly ₹5,00,000 in income for 16 trained gardeners since 2023 (Akshaya Ayyangar & Ayesha,p.6).
Similarly, tribal farmers in Nandurbar, Maharashtra like Savita Vasave, who previously migrated for sugarcane cutting, now earn a net income (e.g., ₹78,500 annually) through diversified vegetable clusters, eliminating the need for seasonal migration (Shrikant Amrutsagar,p.13). In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, increased profitability from integrated farming has allowed farmers to resist the pressure to sell ancestral land to developers despite soaring land prices (up to $4,000 per 0.0099 acre) (p.16).
Social and nutritional security
Urban spaces when used for food production can serve as sites for community interaction and nutrition. “The Edible City” approach targeting schools and Anganwadis provide essential iron-rich greens for mid-day meals (Anita Pinheiro,p.24). Similarly, SowGood Foundation’s initiative of reaching out to schools demonstrate that urban spaces can become sites for learning, food production and ecological stewardship (Priyanshi Prasad, p. 32)
Collective gardening improves the mental well-being of vulnerable populations, including residents of homeless shelters. In 55 Chennai shelters, 78% of coordinators reported reduced stress and better social interaction among residents through collective gardening. In Kochi, a WhatsApp-based network of growers evolved into a grassroots collective that exchanges produce, seedlings, and stories, rebuilding human connections in a digital age (Jos & Kannat,p.10).
The policy gap
Despite significant grassroots momentum, several hurdles prevent the scaling of these initiatives. Urban gardeners frequently struggle with heat stress, pest attacks, and water scarcity without centralized resource centers. A lack of cold storage and formal Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in peri-urban areas leads to price fluctuations and waste. While Anganwadis show high continuity due to government mandates like "Poshan Vatika," other institutional gardens rely heavily on individual ownership (Akshaya Ayyangar & Ayesha,p.6).
Despite successes, urban food production remains largely excluded from mainstream urban planning and climate governance. Agriculture is often viewed as a rural concern, while urban planning focuses on "beautification" rather than food systems. Transitioning to an "edible city" model requires institutional coordination across agriculture, waste management, and urban development sectors. Kerala’s Urban Policy 2026–2050 recognizes green infrastructure but currently lacks a focus on productive landscapes. The dedicated urban component of the Vegetable Development Programme (VDP) was discontinued in 2022–23, removing specific budgetary support for urban clusters (Anita Pinheiro, p.24).
Key Conclusions and Future Outlook
Urban farming is not merely a "privileged green lifestyle" but a necessity for long-term urban resilience. Some of the suggested options could be strengthening direct linkages - moving away from conventional "mandi" (wholesale market) systems toward trust-based, decentralized markets (like Nattuchantha in Thrissur) increases farmer income by 15–30%. Other options include the need for an integrated policy. Urban food production must be institutionalized within land-use policy, climate adaptation strategies, and local economic development plans. Last but not the least, long-term success depends on community involvement rather than top-down departmental projects.
As noted by Mahajan Yadav, a farmer in Uttar Pradesh: "More income means fewer loans taken. There is more to eat for the family." Integrating this sentiment into the Urban farming framework is essential for fostering inclusive and sustainable urban futures.
