Does urban agriculture make us healthier and happier? Examining self-reported wellbeing outcomes of home gardening in India

Urban Farm DB summary

A study measuring the self-reported wellbeing outcomes of urban agriculture in India at individual and community level, drawing on a household survey (n=361), key informant interviews (n=50) and in-depth interviews with home gardeners (n=7). Its novelty is a dataset covering both formal and informal settlements, going beyond existing Indian data. Wellbeing is operationalised through physical and mental health, intra-family, community and beyond-human connectedness, and contribution to pro-environmental values. The authors find significant perceived benefits at individual, household and community levels, and that urban agriculture lets citizens participate, innovate and collectivise in deeply meaningful ways — concluding that it needs to be recognised and mainstreamed within ongoing urban sustainability and climate initiatives.