Household Food Consumption Patterns and Food Security among Low-Income Migrant Urban Farmers in Delhi, Jakarta, and Quito

Jessica Ann Diehl, Kate Oviatt, Amanda Jennifer Chandra and Harpreet Kaur
Additional contact information
Jessica Ann Diehl: Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117566, Singapore
Kate Oviatt: Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA
Amanda Jennifer Chandra: Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117566, Singapore
Harpreet Kaur: M2 Climate Change, Land Use, and Ecosystem Services, Agroparistech, 99190 Paris, France

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: As growing populations in urban areas demand greater food supplies, the poor—particularly poor migrants—may be at higher risk for food insecurity. Evidence suggests that the urban poor who pursue agriculture in the city as a livelihood are more food secure. Thus, it could be assumed that migrants involved in urban agriculture are also in a better position to meet nutritional needs. The aim of this research was to explore household food security among migrant urban farmers using data from studies conducted in three rapidly urbanizing cities: Delhi, India; Jakarta, Indonesia; and, Quito, Ecuador. Surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted with market-oriented small-to-medium scale farmers in each city to understand livelihood and migrant status, household food consumption patterns, and food security. In general, we found that participation in urban agriculture had a positive impact on household food security among participants through direct (self-consumption) and indirect (improved income, improved access) means. Although each case city expressed a different form of low-income migrant practice of urban agriculture, findings suggest that growing food in the city offers some protection against food insecurity through improved quantity, quality, and diversity of food options. This study is particularly relevant in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. These factors guide development goals and priorities. Given that rural-urban migrant trends are predicted to continue, this exploratory study offers empirical evidence related to rural-urban migrants, food security, and urban agriculture.

Keywords: urban agriculture; household food security; rural-urban migration; market-oriented agriculture; Delhi; India; Jakarta; Indonesia; Quito; Ecuador (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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