Peri-urban areas are not ‘waiting rooms’ for entry into urban areas. A fundamental change in mindsets is needed, to prevent further land-use changes and unregulated construction activities. The situation can be better managed by promoting and maintaining multifunctional green spaces and also peri-urban agriculture. The initiative of co creation of science and technology solutions over the green spaces in peri-urban areas of Gorakhpur city has paved an effective way to improve food security of people, maintaining green spaces around the city and enhancing livelihoods for rural poor in urban –rural hinterland areas.

Peri-urban agriculture in Gorakhpur city of India represents a practical mechanism for diversifying urban livelihoods, particularly those of poor and marginalized communities, ensuring the availability of local food supplies, particularly vegetables and fruits and maintaining open areas that can serve as flood buffers. The land use pattern and ecosystem services in these areas are maintained to promote climate resilient peri-urban agriculture with innovative methods. This has resulted in securing livelihoods of small and marginal farmers, enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring urban food security.

Unplanned urbanization and climate variability are two major impediments for sustainable development of cities. The shrinking open space in urban areas and growing demand for shelter is creating pressure on the existing agricultural land, it is jeopardizing green spaces, interrupted the supply chain of vital food items to cities and affecting the traditional livelihood pattern of rural areas.

The present paper is an attempt to disseminate the innovative initiatives taken by the Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG) under the project supported by the Core Support Project of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. In this project, GEAG seeks to mitigate flood and water logging risk of Gorakhpur city through maintaining green by strengthening peri-urban agriculture. The process also demonstrates the importance of ecosystem services through resilient agriculture practice for addressing climate change impacts on the city.

Peri urban areas of Gorakhpur are densely populated. Intensive smallholder agriculture is the dominant norm.  Marginal local farmers and poor city dwellers as well as,rural migrants live side by side and are engaged in agriculture. The peri-urban areas are important   food production centres . That play a crucial role in supplying fresh and affordable food for growing urban populations. For poor peri-urban communities, agriculture is a key livelihood strategy meeting basic food produce and income requirements,  as  a source of employment e.g. as farm labourers. However, the challenges for producing safe and affordable food that preserves environmental integrity are immense.

Gorakhpur is considered the largest commercial centre in Trans Saryu region, with both retail and wholesale markets of commodities ranging from agricultural products to home based cottage industries. Historically, the whole region new to experience low levels of flooding each year, during the summer monsoon (June–September). But during last few decades the haphazard urbanisation process and climatic variability (more rainfall in fewer days) has added new challenge to the existing vulnerabilities, in and around the city. The recent extreme events have raised the intensity and duration of floods and water logging in certain parts of the city.