In twenty first century, urban agriculture has been gaining importance and potential in developing countries. The objective of the present study was to investigate the developments and problems of urban agriculture on the special emphasis on ward numbers 28,29 and 30 of Chandernagore Municipal Corporation (CMC) of Hooghly district of West Bengal. These three wards have been chosen due to the fact that all the said three wards were composed of areas that were rural before 1995, the years in which these wards were added to CMC to provide for expansion of the town. The significant part of population still dependent on agriculture. Particular crops, especially fruits and vegetables to ensure food security to the urban consumers

Chakrabarti, T. (Tanushree )

English

Economic Affairs - Official Publication of AESRA

Economic Affairs, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 599-605, September 2019
DOI: 10.30954/0424-2513.3.2019.16
©2019 EA. All rights reserved
Problem and Prospects of Urban Agriculture in Some Wards of 
Chandernagore Municipal Corporation
Tanushree Chakrabarti
Department of Geography, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan-713104, West Bengal, India
*Corresponding author: mainak.bio@gmail.com (ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2719-6237)
 Received: 13-04-2019 Revised: 17-07-2019 Accepted: 27-08-2019
ABSTRACT
In twenty first century, urban agriculture has been gaining importance and potential in developing 
countries. The objective of the present study was to investigate the developments and problems of 
urban agriculture on the special emphasis on ward numbers 28,29 and 30 of Chandernagore Municipal 
Corporation (CMC) of Hooghly district of West Bengal. These three wards have been chosen due to the 
fact that all the said three wards were composed of areas that were rural before 1995, the years in which 
these wards were added to CMC to provide for expansion of the town. The significant part of population 
still dependent on agriculture. Particular crops, especially fruits and vegetables to ensure food security 
to the urban consumers.
Highlights
 m From the data and information collected from field survey, I advocates that the agriculture is 
moderately developed in ward no. 28,29 and 30 of Chandernagore Municipal Corporation.
 m Agriculture can be further developed if the corporation provides good supply of seeds, fertilizers 
at low cost.
 m Irrigational development as well as the hygienic market should be formed for the selling purpose.
Keywords: urban agriculture, ward, rooftop gardening, bio-fertilizer, ground water
The growing population has created a number of 
questions over how to deal with sustainability in 
terms of transportation, housing needs, recreational 
interests and food supply. Urban agriculture is an 
industry that produces, processes and markets food 
and fuel, largely in response to the daily demand 
of consumers within a town, city or metropolis, 
applying intensive production methods, using 
and reusing natural resources and urban wastes, 
to yield a diversity of crops and livestock (Smit, 
1996). The urban agriculture also has numerous 
benefits in terms of environmental sustainability aid 
environmental restoration and remediation through 
reusing abandoned areas, vacant plots improving 
water and air based natural resources, funna and 
flora and certain yard waste compost.
The present work is based on the special emphasis 
on ward number 28, 29 and 30 of Chandernagore 
municipal corporation. These three wards are 
chosen due to the fact that all the three wards are 
composed of areas that were rural before 1995, the 
year in which they were added to the corporation. 
The areas are still predominantly rural and the 
significant part of the population still dependent 
on agriculture to ensure food security to the urban 
consumers by increasing the availability of food.
To study the socio-economic condition of the 
agriculture and the non-agriculture households in 
ward numbers 28, 29 and 30 of the said municipal 
corporation. To know about the problems and 
grievances of the urban farmers.
DATA BASE AND METHODOLOGY
Social research methods such as survey, questionnaire 
Chakrabarti
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and interview have been used to assess the impact 
and contribution of urban agriculture or food 
security and nutrition.
Following methods have been adopted :
 (A) Selection of survey areas
 (B) Collection of primary data
 (C) Collection of secondary data
 (D) Collection of climatic data
(A) Selection of survey areas
In the present study ward number 28,29 and 30 
under Chandernagore Municipal Corporation was 
selected as the study area because in those wards 
urban agriculture has been practiced. Moreover 
maximum number of farmers resides in the said 
wards.
(B) Collection of primary data
The major primary source of information based on 
the data collected from door to door survey in the 
three wards. I have surveyed 30 non-agricultural 
households and 30 agricultural households of the 
above mentioned wards i.e. total 90 agricultural 
and 90 non-agricultural households were surveyed.
The following questionnaire for non-agricultural 
household were prepared :
 (a) Name of the head of the family
 (b) Numbers of members
 (c) Monthly gross income of the family
 (d) Whether they possess a garden or practice 
rooftop gardening?
 (e) Types of fertilizers (Chemical or Biofertilizer) 
they are using with their trade names and 
purpose of use
 (f) What types of plants have been cultivated in 
their garden?
 (g) Advantages and disadvantages of processing 
garden
Another separate questionnaire for the agricultural 
household was prepared with the following 
questions :
 (a) Name of the head of the household.
 (b) Number of the family members
 (c) Monthly income of the family
 (d) Crops grown during winter, summer, 
monsoon and post monsoon
 (e) Types of fertilizers used with their trade 
name and purpose
 (e) Where do they sell agricultural products?
 (f) From where do they get financial assistance?
 (g) Source of irrigation
 (h) Purpose of agriculture
 (i) Future plans regarding the development of 
agriculture
After door to door survey the data obtained from 
the survey has been represented with suitable 
diagram:
(C) Collection of secondary data
The secondary data and information were collected 
from urban planners office in Chandernagore 
municipal corporation. The following data and 
information were collected :
 (a) Land use  map of  1684  and 2007  in 
Chandernagore municipal corporation and 
slope map of the added area.
 (b) When and Why ward nos. 28,29 and 30 
were included in Chandernagore municipal 
corporation?
 (c) Condition of soil and ground water
 (d) Percentage of agricultural land in specified 
wards of Chandernagore
 (e) Socio-economic data of Chandernagore, 
like total households, sex – ratio, SC, ST 
population, main cultivators (including 
male and female), agricultural labour (total 
male and female), main workers (male and 
female).
(D) Collection of climatic data
The climatic data were collected from Climatic 
Sub-station, Chinsurah which consisted of rainfall, 
maximum and minimum temperature of the 
concerned regions and prepared and ergograph.
OBSERVATION
The main reasons for opting agriculture as 
occupation of households in ward no. 28,29 and 
30 of Chandernagore municipal corporation are 
hereditary profession, farmers are not so educated 
Problem and Prospects of Urban Agriculture in Some Wards of Chandernagore...
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to perform any other secondary or tertiary job, some 
farmers practice agriculture because they are not 
getting the job they desire to have.
Most of the farmers of the said wards use chemical 
fertilizers provide better and faster production than 
bio-fertilizer which are also not easily available. In 
addition, farmers grow crops for their commercial 
benefit and therefore they opt. chemical fertilizers 
for better and fast production.
Irrigation
The water from Saraswati river, pond and canal 
are the major sources of irrigation. However, river 
Saraswati do not flow through ward 28, therefore 
the farmers mainly depend on pond and canal 
(Mankundu canal and Agun khaki khal). In wards 
29 and 30, Saraswati river is the main source of 
irrigation apart from pond. The cost for extraction 
of water from pond is ` 60 per hour.
Mechanization of farm
Most of the farmers use rented tractor to plough 
their agricultural plots. The rent of tractor is ` 350 
per hour.
Supply seeds and fertilizers
The farmers of ward 28,29 and 30 procure seed from 
nursery of nearby markets because Chandernagore 
municipal corporation unlike the nearby gram 
panchyat does not provide seed and fertilizers at 
free of cost or at low cost.
Financial assistance
Saving of the farmers is the one and only financial 
assistance for them. Due to complex loan lending 
procedure, the farmers are reluctant to take loans 
from bank. They do not get any assistance from 
Chandernagore municipal corporation rather they 
have to pay several taxes (water tax, land tax and 
electric tax) to corporation.
Sell of agricultural products
Farmers of ward 29 and 30 sell their agricultural 
products to Baubazar market, whereas the farmer 
of ward no. 28 sell their products either in Jyoti 
market of sometimes in Baubazar market. During 
summer months the farmers do not get any profit 
after selling their agricultural products because the 
price of cultivating crops exceeds than the price 
which they get after selling crops. However, during 
monsoon season when the agriculture production 
is higher, they earned profit. During winter season 
the profit is moderate.
Urban agriculture in Chandernagore can also be 
classified in two types:
Type 1: Garden and rooftop gardening by the non-
agricultural community
Type 2: Cultivation by the farmers
Garden and rooftop gardening
In ward no. 28,29 and 30, out of 90 households 
71 practice either gardening on rooftop or a 
combination of both rooftop and garden. It has been 
observed that some people grow medical plants 
like aloe vera, turmeric, curry leaves, tulsi and mint 
in rooftop gardening on plots. Most of the people 
grow flowers like rose, hibiscus, marigold in winter 
and jasmine in summer and fruits like mango, 
litchi, banana and vegetables like brinjal, pumpkin, 
gourd, cucumber in their garden. In ward 28 and 29 
majority of households possess garden but in ward 
30 most of the people practice garden and rooftop.
Fertilizers use
Most of  the household use bio-fert i l izers 
(vermicompost, green manure, organic manure, 
decomposed flowers and vegetables wastes as 
well as mustard oil cake). One household in ward 
30 uses chemical fertilizers, three households in 
ward 30 and two households in ward 29 do not 
use any kind of fertilizer as they consider the soil 
of Chandernagore is fertile enough for gardening.
Irrigation
All the non-agriculture households use the water 
for irrigation provided by the corporation.
Rainfall
Chandernagore experiences typical monsoon 
climate. Highest amount of rainfall is experienced 
in the month of July (279.6 mm ± ) followed by 226 
mm ± in September, 188.6 mm ± in August and 
150 mm ± in October. No rainfall in received in the 
month of January.
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The reasons for practicing gardening are :
 (i) Gardening is the favorite hobby of many 
people.
 (ii) Green plants provide oxygen and absorb 
carbon-di-oxide.
 (iii) Mango tree provide shade during scorching 
summer afternoon.
 (iv) People grow flowering plants for their 
worship
 (v) Some people practice gardening for refreshing 
their mind as well as for time pass.
Land Man ratio
In 2011, the availability of land per man is high in 
ward no. 28(691) follow by ward no. 30(579) and 
ward no. 29 (499).
Table 1: Showing co-relation between land –man 
ratio main cultivators in each ward of Chandernagore 
Municipal Corporation
Ward No. Land man ratio Main cultivators
1 111 1
2 107 4
3 116 1
4 107 1
5 70 0
6 41 0
7 77 8
8 95 0
9 80 3
10 74 5
11 25 1
12 662 2
13 98 1
14 120 4
15 142 1
16 92 1
17 78 0
18 81 4
19 89 4
20 72 2
21 117 1
22 62 3
23 75 2
24 91 1
25 53 1
26 54  2
27 48 2
28 691 411
29 499 128
30 579 232
31 125 0
32 81 2
33 23 5
DISCUSSION
Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, 
processing and distributing food in or around of 
village, town and cities. It can also involve animal 
husbandry, aquaculture and horticulture (Awasthi, 
2013). The rural-urban fringe characterized by 
small and medium sized farms oriented to the 
metropolitan markets that are more diverse than 
those in rural areas. The agriculture industry in 
this type of land adapts to the new demands of 
urban markets (Smit et al. 1996). According to 
Bailkey and Nasr (2000) typically urban agriculture 
applies intensive production methods, frequently 
using and reusing natural resources and urban 
wastes, to yield a diverse array of land, contributing 
to the food security, health and environment of 
the community. Beatly (2000) reported that the 
agriculture that happens to fall within or at the 
edge of a metropolitan area, perhaps adding its 
relationship to urban population. Lynch et al. (2002) 
suggests that in some ethics urban agriculture 
may already occupy 35 percent of the population 
and may supply upto 50 percent of urban fresh 
vegetables. Gupta and Gangopadhyay (2011) opined 
that urban agriculture and associated development 
can link between urban and rural areas.
Important advantage to the urban producer is the 
opportunity to use urban wastewaters. Better access 
and availability to good food for all, more vitamins 
and other essential micronutrients available per 
unit of food. Better access to protein at reduced 
cost to low income families. Ali and Srivastava 
(2017) emphasized that urban cities have major 
contribution to gross development product (GDP) 
growth of a country. With increasing urban sprawl 
the rural villages are getting converted into urban 
villages and gentrified in metropolitan cities like 
Delhi, depending of it on periurban areas for food 
production has increased.
In the present investigation in most of the times 
during summer season the farmers do not get any 
profit after selling agricultural products because 
the price of cultivating crops exceeds than the 
price which they get after selling crops. Seldom the 
Problem and Prospects of Urban Agriculture in Some Wards of Chandernagore...
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farmers earned profit during monsoon when the 
production is higher than the other seasons. Profit 
in winter season is moderate. So, the development 
of urban agriculture in ward no. 28,29 and 30 is 
moderate. Farmers do not get adequate income 
for sustaining their life. Chandernagore Municipal 
Corporation do not provide any assistance to the 
farmers for development of agriculture. Irrigation 
facility is not much developed in ward no. 28.
In all the said three wards, the non-agricultural 
households prefer to use bio-fertilizer as it is eco-
friendly and do not cause soil pollution.
So my study areas I have found that out of 90 
households surveyed, 71 families practice gardening 
rooftops. Most of the people grow flowers, fruits 
and vegetables in summer. In addition some people 
also grow medicinal plants on rooftop gardening 
on pots. According to Smit (1996) because of the 
density of the core area, urban agriculture usually 
takes place on rooftops and balconies, temporarily 
vacant plots, in converted buildings and sometimes 
in public parks.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENMTS
Grateful acknowledgements to the Head of the 
Department of Geography, The University of 
Burdwan, Burdwan 713104, West Bengal for this 
generous help during the present investigation.
CONCLUSION
The urban agriculture practice may be developed 
in Chandernagore if the farmers get assistance 
from Chandernagore municipal corporation 
by supplying seeds, fertilizers at low cost. The 
municipal corporation should establish a farm 
school where the farmers could get training and 
information regarding improved modernized 
agriculture. The corporation should take initiative 
regarding irrigational development by constructing 
ponds, deep wells etc. Twiss et al. (2003) noticed that 
community garden also provide great access to fresh 
and nutritious vegetables and have a significant role 
in addressing public health.
Future plans of urban agriculture
 1. The agricultural labors should plan to 
purchase their own land in future.
 2. To improve carrot cultivation in winter and 
hybrid ladies fingers cultivation in monsoon.
 3. Use of modern scientific technology in order 
to increase the agricultural production.
Figs. 1 to 15. Showing photographs of map, study areas, man-land ratio and non-cultivars ratio of ward 
no. 28,29 and 30 in Chandernagore Municipal Corporation
Fig. 1 (A): Showing location map of India and West Bengal; (B) Showing location map of Hooghly district of West Bengal; (C) Showing 
location map of Hooghly district; (D) Showing location map of Ward no. 28,29 and 30 of Chandernagore Municipal Coporation
Chakrabarti
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Fig. 2: Showing irrigation system of ward no. 28 Fig. 3: Showing irrigation system in other places of ward no. 28
Fig. 4: Crop cultivated by farmers in ward no. 28 Fig. 5: Paddy cultivation in ward no. 28
Fig. 6: Crop cultivation in Ward no. 29 Fig. 7: Vegetable cultivation in ward no. 30
Fig. 8: Roof top gardening in non-agricultural household of ward 
no. 28
Fig. 9: Gardening in non-agricultural household of ward no. 28
Problem and Prospects of Urban Agriculture in Some Wards of Chandernagore...
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Fig. 11: Gardening in non-agricultural household of ward no. 30 Fig. 12: Showing correlation of Man-land ratio of each ward in 
Chandernagore Municipal Coporation
Fig. 13: Showing correlation man-cultiva tors ration of each ward in Chandernagore Municipal Coporation
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Problem and Prospects of Urban Agriculture in Some Wards of Chandernagore Municipal Corporation

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Problem and Prospects of Urban Agriculture in Some Wards of Chandernagore Municipal Corporation

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