📋 Written Ability Test (WAT)/Essay Analysis Guide: Can Urban Agriculture Solve the Problem of Food Insecurity in Cities?

🌐 Understanding the Topic’s Importance

Urban agriculture connects with themes of sustainability, urban planning, and food security, making it highly relevant for B-school essays.

📝 Effective Planning and Writing

• Time Allocation (30 minutes):
  • Planning: 5 minutes
  • Writing: 20 minutes
  • Review: 5 minutes
• Preparation Tips:
  • Note key statistics and case studies.
  • Brainstorm pros, cons, and innovative ideas.

💡 Introduction Techniques for Essays

1. Contrast Approach: “While cities consume 70% of global food, their contribution to food production remains marginal. Urban agriculture seeks to bridge this gap, albeit with challenges.”
2. Solution-Based Start: “Urban agriculture, through technologies like hydroponics and rooftop farming, offers a viable pathway to addressing food insecurity in cities.”

📖 Structuring the Essay Body

1. Paragraph 1: Achievements: Highlight localized production benefits, resilience during supply chain disruptions, and environmental impacts.
2. Paragraph 2: Challenges with Comparative Analysis: Discuss scalability, resource intensity, and compare with global success stories like Singapore or Havana.
3. Paragraph 3: Future Outlook: Suggest integration with smart cities, technological advancements, and policy reforms.

✨ Concluding Effectively

1. Balanced Perspective: “Urban agriculture offers innovative but partial solutions to food insecurity, requiring systemic integration with broader policies for maximum impact.”
2. Global Comparison: “With lessons from cities like Singapore and Havana, urban agriculture can be scaled effectively through technology and policy support.”

📄 Sample Short Essays (100 Words Each)

• Balanced Perspective: “Urban agriculture addresses food insecurity by localizing production and reducing transport emissions. However, its scalability and energy demands pose challenges. A hybrid model integrating urban farming with traditional agriculture can ensure sustainability and sufficiency.”
• Solution-Oriented: “By leveraging technologies like hydroponics and vertical farming, urban agriculture can transform cities into hubs of sustainable food production. With strong policy backing and innovation, it can significantly reduce urban food insecurity.”
• Global Comparison: “From Singapore’s high-tech farms to Havana’s urban gardens, cities worldwide demonstrate urban agriculture’s potential. India’s urban planners must adapt these models to local contexts for meaningful impact.”