Farmers of the Yamuna Floodplain

More than 50% of the Indian population is employed in the agricultural sector. With the increasing demand for food in the cities and urban areas as a consequence of urbanisation and migration, farmers have started practising agriculture in cities and urban spaces. The implementation of urban farming practices in residential areas, both urban and peri-urban, is proving to be a valuable means of promoting knowledge-sharing and sustainability within the community of farmers. The practice of urban farming in Delhi has served as a means of generating income for numerous migrant families who have moved to the city in pursuit of improved economic opportunities.

This letter is based on the author’s post-doctoral fieldwork conducted between March and June 2023 in three areas selected along the Yamuna floodplains in Delhi. During the household data collection, information from 150 farmers has been gathered from all three areas, namely Madanpur Khadar, Vishwakarma Colony, and Chilla Khadar. The majority of the farmers in these areas are being abused and exploited in many ways by land mafias, landowners, Delhi Police, and officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).