In June, Bengaluru residents faced soaring vegetable prices, prompting many to cut back on staples like onions, potatoes, and tomatoes. While weather fluctuations contributed to the spike, the city’s shifting agricultural landscape plays a larger, often overlooked, role.
Bengaluru’s rapid expansion has consumed nearby agricultural land, pushing farming to distant rural hinterlands. Between 1973 and 2022, farmland in the city shrank from 58.59% to 32.9%, replaced by urban development. Meanwhile, rural districts saw agricultural land grow from 36% to 54%, often at the expense of forests, which plummeted from 39% to just 5%. This shift displaces farmers, worsens environmental health, and raises food costs due to longer supply chains and reduced productivity on less fertile new farmland.
Farmers face mounting challenges, from polluted water sources to unaffordable land prices. Studies reveal nearly half of Bengaluru’s farmers have sold their land, finding agriculture unsustainable. Yet, integrating farming within urban areas could reverse these trends. Urban agriculture offers fresh, affordable produce, protects farmer livelihoods, and mitigates environmental degradation.
Unlike rooftop gardens, which cater to affluent families and have limited market impact, traditional farming in urban zones could provide widespread benefits. Bengaluru can draw inspiration from Bhopal’s ban on pesticides near water sources, adopting similar zoning laws to safeguard farmland and irrigation resources.
Without action, Bengaluru’s unchecked sprawl will continue to erode farmland, displace farmers, and drive up food prices. Integrating agriculture into urban planning is essential for a sustainable, affordable, and equitable future.
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