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OBJECTIVE
The specific objectives of the workshop were :
- Review the ongoing programmes and projects
related to UPA in Asia
- Discuss related policy, planning and marketing
issues
- Access cost effective technologies for
sustainable development of UPA.
Twenty-one delegates sponsored by FAO from seven
countries viz., Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Laos
PDR, India, Nepal and Vietnam and forty delegates
sponsored by PNASF, Bangalore from India i.e from
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
participated in the workshop which had the
representation of senior scientists, senior level
policy makers from Governments, technocrats,
developmental functionaries from Government and
non-government organizations, representatives from
private and other stake holders of UPA and students.
These delegates were invited more specifically to
share their experiences, determine the need and
means for regional co-operation in the field of UPA
in Asia and elaborate a frame work for action to
strengthen and co-ordinate an integrated approach
towards sustainable UPA.
The workshop was inaugurated by Shri. R. Srinivas,
Honourable Minister of Horticulture , Government of
Karnataka on 29th June, 2005. Addressing the
delegates, Shri Srinivas said that until now the
Government of India’s agricultural policies have
been mainly focused on rural agriculture to achieve
self-sufficiency in food and nutrition security and
felt that, before the urban population exceeds that
of rural, we should shift attention towards UPA
planning and developmental activities.
Dr. W.O. Baudoin, FAO consultant in his theme
presentation briefed about the scope and expected
outputs of the workshop and reiterated that the
success and sustainability of UPA interventions
require national commitment and municipal ownership
with the participants of a series of stake holders
both from the public and private sectors and this
commitment should ultimately result in the
integrations of UPA in the city development plans.
He further informed that the primary output of the
workshop would result into a frame work for action
for Asia through a participatory process and
launching of an information portal to facilitate
access to the exchange of information on UPA in
Asia.
Delivering his key note address, Dr. Prem Nath,
Chairman, PNASF, Bangalore emphasized that the rapid
urbanization on food preferences and the developing
world, and, associated changes in life-styles will
have significant bearing on demand, increased
pressure on land, demand for water, energy and great
stress on environment to keep pace with
developments. In this context, Dr. Prem Nath urged
the policy makers and others to examine the upcoming
scenario, formulate appropriate policy, develop
strategy and planning towards overall urban
development satisfying the partnership approach
among all stake holders and called upon a timely
role and action by the Ministries of Urban
Development and Municipalities, Agriculture and
Horticulture, Water Development, Energy and
Environment and others.
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Abhay Prakash,
Additional Chief Secretary and Development
Commissioner, Government of Karnataka appreciated
the efforts of FAO and the PNASF in organizing this
workshop and thanked for choosing Bangalore as their
first venue for this workshop and assured all the
possible co-operation from the State of Karnataka.
FELICITATIONS
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In the beginning Dr. O.P. Dutta extended warm
welcome to the Chief Guest and the dignitaries. The
function was concluded with a vote of thanks from
Shri. P.B. Gaddagimath. The entire function was
coordinated by Smt. Shymla Nath, the Trustee of
PNASF.
Following the inaugural presentations the
participants were benefited from the guest lectures
presented by senior experienced scientists,
technocrats, development functionaries and subject
matter specialists from India. All the participating
countries made their country presentations on the
status of UPA and strategies for UPA.
Through ad-hoc working sessions the participants
discussed and deliberated on the multidimensional
nature of UPA and felt the need of a
multi-disciplinary, multi stake-holders and
multi-functional strategy in support of UPA. To
become acquainted with the reality of UPA in the
city of Bangalore and to learn more about the scope
and limitations of UPA, field visits were arranged
to the sites of important stake holders of UPA on
30th June, 2005. Four organizations viz., Department
of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka, HOPCOMS,
Bangalore, representing Government sponsored
organizations M/s Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd., and
Namdhari Fresh representing the private sectors and
Karnataka Compost Development Corporation Ltd.,
Bangalore representing autonomous body were selected
for the visits.
Summarizing the deliberations during the three
days of the workshop, Dr. S. Bisalaiah, Former
Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore in his valedictory
address on 1st July, 2005, pointed out some of the
bottlenecks in the development of UPA which need
immediate attention viz., unemployment, low income,
poverty and environmental degradation and requested
the organizers to look into these aspects while
developing the strategies for UPA.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
The Conclusions
and Recommendations of the three days deliberations
of the workshop are as follows:
For decision makers
- UPA should become a part of agriculture
development planning at the country/state/province
and city level.
- Emphasis should be placed on building
awareness and consensus among cross section of the
society to implement UPA.
- Ensure that UPA is part of the city
development planning process, besides housing,
roads, recreation, educational and other essential
facilities
- The government/municipalities may
identify the appropriate authorities/bodies to work
out land use planning with specific relevance to UPA.
The participation of public and private sectors in
this land use planning process needs to be ensured.
- Major stakeholders for UPA need to be
identified in line with country-specific policies
and strong functional linkages among all
stakeholders to ensure sustained UPA activities.
- The urban development authorities may
promulgate law/pass a precedent to ensure a definite
percentage (3-5%) of land/space for implementation
of various elements of UPA. This must be made
mandatory for all private layouts also.
- The government may create an ombudsman
agency comprising of representatives from city
development authority, land use planning, private
sector, public sector, public/communities and law
departments.
- The envisaged UPA activities must
generate additional employment opportunities for
urban/peri urban poor.
- The urban development authorities/UPA
implementing agencies must ensure green zones
(protecting, strengthening, expanding) etc.
- The UPA activities may become prospect
for eco tourism.
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For research
- Identify and
develop cost effective appropriate/suitable
technologies (economically viable, environmentally
friendly and sustainable) for their practice in UPA.
- Develop
effective and efficient extension mechanism to
disseminate such appropriate technologies to be
taken up by UPA practitioners.
- The good
agricultural practices specific to urban and peri
urban situations need to be identified and applied.
- Develop
various models for urban horticulture production
systems particularly kitchen gardening, terrace
garden, container farming, hydroponics etc.
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For the private sector
and NGOs
- Become involved in the scientific
management and recycling of urban waste and
its utilization for strengthening of UPA
activities with adequate support and
cooperation of the municipal authorities.
- Integrate UPA production towards quality
labelled produces/commodities.
- To the extent possible, taking advantage
of the available labour, the peri-urban
agriculture may also be looked into from
commercial angles and specifically for niche
markets of high value products for local and
export markets.
- Identification and delineating the role of
NGOs needs to be done keeping in mind the
advisory services required by the growers,
formation and use of groups, towards micro
credit.
- Appropriate credit facilities including
the micro credit may be extended to urban
poor.
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For training and extension
- The Human Resource Development component
may be added to UPA with the mandate of
capacity building programmes/awareness
programmes and special skill trainings for
extension personnel, UPA practitioners
particularly the urban poor, senior citizens,
women and youth.
- Quality and safety parameters needed for
both food security and export purposes should
be integrated in such capacity building
programmes.
- Fostering the grass root level initiatives
through participatory training process must be
ensured under UPA.
- Various components of UPA may form a part
of curriculum at school level to educate and
involve children in UPA activities.
- The peri urban agriculture may support
primary and secondary industries located in
the fringe areas of cities in relation to
post-harvest handling, distribution and
processing.
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AGENDA FOR ACTION
Each provincial government may create an apex
body as a managerial entity to implement UPA
initiatives. Steps to be taken by such an apex body
would include:
- Set terms of references for the apex body
- Identify stakeholders as members of such body
and set their specific responsibility
- Set guidelines for proper distribution and
utilization of water resources
- Develop a logical framework for action
- Create an implementation body comprising of
identified stakeholders to implement the framework
by UPA
- Ensure availability of quality inputs
essential for implementing UPA
- Create marketing network and market channels
for UPA produces/products and also develop
agricultural market information systems
- Address issues related to gender, ethnic and
other social issues that arise while implementing
UPA
- Create specific database on UPA both public
and private domain.
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