Terrace farming and gardening in Bangalore

A research brief that traces the key motivations for adoption by residents

By shreya nath, Sneha Singh and Shilpa Swaraj

Bangalore was once epitomized by monikers like India’s Garden City and was known for its parks and gardens that were integral to the city’s landscape. But from the early 2000s this landscape has been largely altered due to rapid urbanization.

A 2012 study revealed that the city has witnessed an 88% decline in green cover since 1992.

However, terrace farming and gardening has been a popular trend in Bangalore since the 1990s. The work-from-home culture during the pandemic has made terrace gardening emerge stronger. The growing popularity of terrace gardening suggests that it could serve as a model for expansion into other types and scales of greening.

In order to understand and trace the motivations of residents that led them to take up terrace gardening, we conducted qualitative interviews with 16 terrace gardeners, and mapped out their adoption journeys. The study was conducted during the first lockdown imposed in response to the COVID 19 pandemic via phone interviews.

Our research brief traces the key motivations for adoption of terrace gardening by residents in the city. It also emphasizes the need for sustainable gardening practices to avoid unintended consequences and provides a smart list of practices to choose from. Read our insights from the study here:

Research Brief: Terrace Farming and Gardening in Bangalore.

We would love to hear from you. To collaborate with the Green Cities Initiative, reach out to the initiative lead Shreya Nath: shreya.nath@atree.org