Vol. 10, Special Issue 7 (2021)

Author(s):
T Mahesh Kumar, Dr. B Savitha, Dr. K Bhanu Rekha and Dr. P Prashanth

Abstract:
The present study entitled “Urban Farming - A step towards nutritional, health and economic security amid - COVID-19 Pandemic” was conducted during 2020 to characterise urbanites practicing urban farming located in twin cities of Hyderabad and to assess the received benefits (nutritional, health, ecological and economic) in practicing urban farming. An ex-post facto research design was followed to achieve the objectives of the study as the variables already occurred. A total of one hundred and twenty urban farming practitioners having more than three years’ experience was selected randomly at the rate of 20 respondents from each zone. The data were collected by a personal interview method with the help of structured interview schedule and data was analysed by employing suitable statistical methods. The findings of the study revealed that, urban farming practitioners were of middle age (36-58 yrs.) with graduation to post graduation and belonged to upper middle to high income groups (₹300000-900000) with low farming experience (3-12 years). It was also found that; majority of the urban farming respondent’s first preference was leafy vegetables, received medium family support, with BCR more than 1.0 (70.84%). Further, it was also observed that, greater majority of the respondent’s intake of energy, protein, Iron, calcium, high β-Carotene, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacin as high when compared with national average intake. Similarly, introduction of urban agriculture helped urban population to produce required greens, improve consumption pattern and nutritional status. The urban farming offers physical exercise, ensures availability of chemical free vegetables and house hold level nutritional security were the major benefits as perceived by the respondents.