Trajectories of (peri-)urban agriculture in Lima: Between indifference and revival

Abstract

Agriculture in urban areas is becoming more valued and recognized for its multiple functions (nutritional, environmental, and social). It plays a key role in city planning and transforms the way in which people inhabit the urban space. This article analyzes the situation of urban agriculture in Lima, where the activity is subjected to multiple pressures. The study also delves into the dynamics of peripheral agricultural sites and the emergence of urban vegetable gardens. What is the place of agricultural activity in Lima, and how do the public authorities integrate it into their policies? At first glance, it appears that the activity is of rather limited interest, destined to disappear, and that it occupies only a marginal space in the Lima landscape. Certain actors, however, continue to profit from agriculture (generating income, strengthening social links), and it is beginning to arouse renewed interest among city-dwellers (farmers or otherwise) and the authorities.