Introduction: City context
Bangalore (officially Bengaluru) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located 12.97° N, 77.56° E on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka. Bangalore has an estimated metropolitan population of 6.5 million (65 lakh) and covers an area of 741 km² (286 mi²), making it India's third-most populous city and Fifth-largest metropolitan area. Situated at about 1000 meters above sea level, it is known for its salubrious climate where temperatures remain moderate through out the year. The maximum temperature in July is around 32°C / 90°F and the minimum around 22°C / 73°F. Bangalore is also called “the Garden City” and is characterized by a lush green structure. It is connected by air, rail and road to all major cities of the country and has direct international connections to many cities worldwide.
Description of main urban agriculture systems in Bangalore
Bangalore has been a pioneer in several initiatives including greening, large scale recycling wastes, and vegetable distribution for instance, In the inner city areas, urban horticulture initiatives, though scarce, are visible in the form of back and from yard, as well as terrace gardens. These small spaces are effectively sued for growing and household waste recycling.
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Recycling household waste Home gardening in Bangalore
Peri-urban agriculture includes the growing of vegetables, fruits, flowers, paddy and livestock production. Produce is a.o sold on small farmer markets. However, with its growing populations, peri urban agriculture areas are being pushed away. To remain a viable sector, agricultural productivity and the quality of produce would need to be improved and forms of ecological agriculture promoted.
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Peri-urban farming Flower production for the market Farmer market
Description of the Multistakeholder Policy Formulation and Action Planning Process in Bangalore
In Bangalore, the local NGO AME Foundation was identified as lead partner for the Multi-stakeholder Policy formulation and Action Planning in process in Bangalore. They mobilized various stakeholders involved in UPA activities in the city, including the local municipality, schools, the University and urban producers or community organizations, to create a UPA enabling team as a platform for mutual exchange and support to promote UPA within Bangalore city.
A Project Inception Meeting was held on September 6th 2006 to formally introduce the RUAF project to the city of Bangalore. A first analysis of the presence of urban agriculture in Bangalore revealed that that there was significantly more scope for peri-urban agriculture as compared with urban horticulture. Establishing productive and economically viable agricultural production nodes in the peri-urban zone surrounding Bangalore has significant strategic importance and fits within the Land use Planning associated with the Bangalore Draft Master Plan. It is seen as a means of addressing urban food security and a means of re-dressing the current trend of rural/peri-urban to urban migration and associated increase in urban poor. This would also directly impact on the income and livelihood security of peri-urban farmers their household food security and status in society. Opportunities for Urban Horticulture were more limited and could take the form of residence association allotment gardens, terrace gardens and school gardens.
It was therefore decided to focus the MPAP process on two distinct areas in Bangalore: urban Bangalore, characterized by the presence of urban horticulture activities and Magadi, a peri-urban municipality with a population of 25,000 inhabitants and characterized by a clear presence of farming in the area, a keen interest to interventions like solid waste management and promotion of ecological agriculture and with an active NGO presence working on supporting livestock raising.
With support of students, questionnaire surveys were implemented in Bangalore to get further insight in the current UPA production systems, consumption patterns and marketing opportunities. Also a stakeholder identification and analysis and a policy review were implemented.
In urban Bangalore the characteristics, needs and potentials for urban horticulture development were thus identified. Constraints include: lack of Availability of seed/seedlings/planting material, Water availability, In-adequate training and training/knowledge materials, Lack of networking opportunities and Lack of skilled help. Opportunities include: Nursery cultivation and sale of seedlings; Residents associations identifying and enrolling potential ‘Malis’ (helping hands for gardening) for supporting the urban horticulture activities by residents in selected areas. Based on this analysis, a Pilot Project has been developed aimed at developing income generating opportunities for the urban poor, in association with composting of household wastes and rainwater harvesting. Emphasis will also be placed on the development of training/knowledge materials.
Situation analysis in Magadi is still ongoing. A PRA workshop will be implemented in December 2007 to complete the situation analysis in Magadi. However, an action planning process has been started up from July 2007 onwards, as a basis for further action planning. The vision of activities to promote peri-urban agriculture in Magadi, is based on improving the capacity of farmers (through farmer participatory knowledge and technology transfer) to grow high value marketable vegetables using low external inputs following LEISA Principles (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture) and strengthen producer-consumer linkages. Action planning and project development will be completed in 2008.
Linkages to regional websites, key documents, photos, maps
For more information on the RUAF-Cities Farming for the Future Programme in the region, contact the regional coordinator at RUAF South and South East Asia or see their website.
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