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.

Gordon Prain

In: Cities Farming for the Future - Urban Agriculture for Green and Productive Cities

The urban setting offers special advantages for food and animal production, but also presents particular challenges. Urban agriculture needs to be highly innovative in competing and adapting to new situations. Urban and peri-urban agricultural systems exhibit even higher levels of complexity than rural upland systems and call for a wider range of participatory methods. This chapter discusses participatory agricultural research and its relevancy for the urban setting. A sustainable urban livelihoods framework is discussed, which enables to better understand and define the multi-sectoral, institutional and policy aspects of urban agriculture in order to identify appropriate interventions. Specific participatory methods are discussed for urban horticulture and livestock to help urban producers adapt agriculture to urban realities.

René van Veenhuizen

In: Cities Farming for the Future - Urban Agriculture for Green and Productive Cities

Attention to urban agriculture has increased markedly during the last couple of decades. The number of activities to promote urban agriculture at international, national and local level has grown, but urban farmers in many cities in the world still struggle to get their main survival strategy recognised by city authorities. The demand of policy makers and local practitioners for inspiring examples of successful policies and actions in cities is therefore growing. Urban agriculture contributes to a wide variety of urban issues and is increasingly being accepted and used as a tool in sustainable city development. Currently the challenge is its integration into city planning and facilitation of its multiple benefits for urban inhabitants. This book seeks to present the current state of affairs regarding urban agriculture and sustainable urban development.

Métodos adecuados para la agricultura urbana: Investigación, desarrollo de políticas, planificación, implementación y evaluación (Conferencia Electrónica - Febrero 4-16 2002)

Workshop on Appropriate Research and Planning on Methodologies for Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture
Organised by ETC (RUAF), CGIAR (SIUPA), UNDP-UNCHS (PGU-LAC)

The workshop took place from 2-5 October 2001, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Research & Development Methodologies, introduced by: Arturo Perez Vazquez and Simon Anderson (Wye College, London, UK)

In: Annotated Bibliography on Urban Agriculture

Here you can find two State of the Art Reviews.

1) A Methodological Review of Research into Urban Agriculture¹

Arturo Perez Vazquez and Simon Anderson (Wye College, University of London)

Methodes Appropriées pour l'Agriculture Urbaine. Recherche, Développement Politique, Planification, Réalisation Et Evaluation (Conférence électronique - Février 4-16 2002)

Appropriate methods for urban agriculture. Research, policy development, planning, implementation and evaluation. (E-conference - February 4-16 2002)