Livelihood Strategy or Lifestyle Choice? A study of middle and high-income urban farmers in Mumbai

Sammanfattning: Urban Agriculture (UA) in becoming more visible globally, in part due to the crisis of the food system in 2007-8 but also due to recognition of the benefits of the practice in providing food, biodiversity and contributions toward sustainability. UA is considered in this thesis as a form of ‘food system relocalization’ which provides an alternative to the global food system. Relocalizing food systems can contribute to the ‘right-sizing’ of economies advocated by sustainable degrowth. I investigate how UA is constructed in Mumbai and the reasons why middle and high-income urban farmers chose to engage in the practice. This study has a qualitative methodology comprising of a case study of Urban Leaves - a citizen initiative promoting UA, online interviews and analysis of discourse relating to UA in Mumbai. From the study UA is practiced as a lifestyle choice among middle and high-income urban farmers, the main focus of which is in providing local, organic food using agro-ecological farming practices. UA is a means to contribute towards a reconnection with nature, healthier lifestyles and the sustainability of Mumbai.