Abstract

The experimental work described here, forms part of a major interdisciplinary study to assess the scientific and socio-economic implications of environmental threats to urban and peri-urban agriculture in India, with particular emphasis on the livelihoods of the poor. Innovative methods are used to share the emerging experimental findings with a wide range of stakeholders, and to consider them in the context of the constraints faced by the urban poor, and by the authorities charged with environmental and agricultural policy planning and implementation. The study includes in-depth participatory research activities with local communities, and consultation with NGOs, policy makers, planners and others. One major thrust of the policy activities is to consider how air pollution impacts on agriculture can be effectively included in environmental policies and air pollution control strategies, which focus predominantly on the direct impacts of air pollution on human health in urban areas.