Expanding Urban Agriculture in NCR Cities

During 2025–2026, PRC conducted an in-depth study of urban farming practices in Gurugram, a rapidly growing city characterised by stark socio-spatial inequalities, privatised urban governance, and severe environmental stress. Building on earlier work in Delhi, the Gurugram study examined how urban agriculture operates across diverse contexts—rooftops, vacant plots, informal settlements, peri-urban fringes, and institutional spaces—and how these practices intersect with issues of climate adaptation, water use, waste management, livelihoods, and public health.

The findings revealed that while urban farming is already contributing to household food security, income diversification, and ecological cooling, it remains largely invisible in policy and planning processes. Practitioners face barriers such as insecure land tenure, lack of institutional support, regulatory ambiguity, and limited access to technical resources.

The next phase of the programme will extend this research to Noida, another fast-growing NCR city with distinct governance structures, land-use patterns, and environmental vulnerabilities. The Noida study will assess urban agriculture as a climate-resilient livelihood and food system intervention, with particular attention to:

Urban heat mitigation and microclimate regulation
Water efficiency and reuse practices
Biodiversity enhancement and soil health
Food access for low-income and marginalised communities
Gendered and informal labour dynamics

Research will be conducted through mixed methods, combining surveys, interviews, participatory mapping, and field documentation of farming practices. Special emphasis will be placed on capturing community knowledge, innovations, and low-input, nature-based solutions already in practice.

Output

One narrative research report mapping urban agriculture practices by the end of the year

Outcome

Strengthened evidence base on urban agriculture in India
A growing community of practitioners, researchers, and citizens advancing climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban food systems
Improved understanding of how cities can integrate food production into climate action and urban planning frameworks