Peri-urban agriculture is defined as agriculture undertaken in places on the fringes of urban areas. It is usually carried out in surrounding the boundaries of cities throughout the world and includes products from crop and livestock agriculture, fisheries and forestry. It also includes non-wood forest products, as well as ecological services provided by agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Often multiple farming and gardening systems exist in and near a single city.

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Peri-urban agriculture and mitigation of effects of climate change:

• Green zones around urban areas: Beyond the agro-products provided, trees will help in sustaining ecosystems by acting as carbon sinks, protection of water-supply catchments for the cities, protection against landslides thus helping climate change mitigation.
• Reduction in phenomenon of Urban heat island: Due to dense population and use of concrete as building material urban heat islands with higher temperature then surrounding areas are created.
• Lower need for transportation: Due to rapid urbanization in the past years, demand for vegetables, fruits and flowers are constantly increasing in these areas. Peri-urban agriculture will reduce the burden on transport, and help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cold storages.
• Diversification of food basket: Peri-Urban Agriculture can help in climate change adaptation through diversification of food resources for the urban population.
• Restrict unplanned urbanization: Unplanned and rapid urbanization causes environmental pollution which causes climate change. Peri-Urban Agriculture will help in creating attractive employment option and prevent the conversion of agricultural land near urban areas into cities and towns

Other merits of Peri-Urban agriculture:

• Urbanisation in India is growing and the problem of food inflation largely rises from the demand-supply gaps in urban areas.
• One way of stabilising the prices of vegetables and fruits in urban areas is to promote peri-urban horticulture by providing the necessary technical and marketing support.
• Decentralised production, as for example in Israel, could be supported by cooperative marketing.
• Urban and peri-urban ‘horticulture revolution’ could pave the way for more stable prices to the consumer
• At the same time, we should ensure that the quality of the food remains high and free of pesticide residues and other unsafe chemicals.
• Thus, we can ensure stability of supply coupled with high quality and safe food, while contributing to price stability.
• The urban population demands special foods particularly fruits and vegetables. Therefore, a peri-urban farming programme would be timely.

Conclusion:

With urbanization on the rise, the peri-urban agriculture throws a brilliant opportunity from socio-economic as well as environmental point of view. The need of the hour is policy changes like effective legislation for leasing of the plots and gardens through a contract recognized by the municipality and correctly registered to promote participation by potential farmers, vegetable growers and livestock producers.