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Question: Cultivating Sustainable Cities: A Comparative Study of Urban Agriculture in Mumbai, India and New York City, USA

Answer: Urban agriculture has the potential to be a source of great social and environmental good
within a city. This study couples in-depth interviews with urban farmers with secondary research
to provide a holistic understanding of the urban agriculture movement in Mumbai, Maharastra,
India and New York City, New York, USA. Through this resource, it became apparent that the
two movements vary drastically in terms of size, scope, resource availability, and movement
goals. Despite these differences, the research points to one striking similarity. In both cities,
farms and gardens in lower income areas have access to a far smaller body of resources than
their counterparts in wealthier areas. Additionally, both movements struggle to form networks
across socioeconomic divides. This study utilizes four social movement theories to determine
why two movements that vary so drastically show such similar patterns when it comes to
resource distribution and network formation. Resource mobilization theory, political opportunity
structure, ideologically structured action, and new social movement theory will be utilized in
order to solve this puzzle. The end result is an in-depth understanding of these two complex
movements. This study may serve to inform future action surrounding urban agriculture in the
two cities as well as to provide suggestions for budding movements in urban areas across the
globe.

(Source: , 23 Sep 2021)

Source Link: https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=envirohp