We are happy to present this report based on the research conducted as part of the Urban Agriculture Fellowship-2021 by Rosamma Thomas.
Rosamma conducted this research over a period of roughly two months in Pune. Through extensive community interaction and interviews of practitioners of urban farming, she presents a timely overview of urban agricultural activities in different parts of Pune and how a strong network of organic farmers has evolved over the recent years which gives hope for sustainability in Pune.
About the author
Rosamma Thomas is a freelance journalist based in Pune.
About the series
For decades, urban and peri-urban agriculture has been a well-integrated part of many Indian cities. It provides a systemic alternative to urban scarcity and severe ecological footprint and makes cities and urban communities more resilient and self-reliant. In most cities, this issue is also closely linked with the condition of rivers and proposed developments on the river banks.
People’s Resource Centre (PRC) has documented existing practices and emerging trends in urban and periurban farming in Indian cities. This series is an attempt to further expand the ongoing research and bring attention to the urban farming practices in other Indian cities.
The reports as part of this series are based on the detailed and comprehensive studies undertaken in different Indian cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Ranchi, Patna and Bodhgaya. The research work for these reports was conducted as part of the Urban Agriculture Research Fellowship.
These studies explored the expanse of urban agriculture in respective cities through interactions with urban farmers, terrace gardeners and communities living on the river banks and coastal areas.
The idea behind the series is to disseminate knowledge about the prevalence of urban farming and allied activities and their significance for the city’s ecosystem. We sincerely hope that these reports will serve as a starting point for further research in these cities and inspire fellow practitioners, independent researchers, and other civil society organisations to come together for deeper discussions and creative strategy for action.
