Report of the Ministers' Conference on Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture: Prospects for Food Security and Growth in Eastern and Southern Africa

Urban agriculture is one of the main activities urban residents are undertaking in
an effort to among other things a) ensure food security b) alleviate poverty and c)
reduce environmental degradation in their areas. Urban agriculture contributes
greatly to the food security of many urban residents in Eastern and Southern
Africa. City case studies in the region by researchers such as Mlozi 1992; Drescher,
1996; Mbiba, 1995; Mudimu, 1996 show a considerable degree of self-sufficiency in
cereal, fresh vegetable and small livestock production. It was estimated that the
number of people obtaining part of their food from urban agriculture in six East
and Southern African countries will rise from about 25 million to 40 million by
2020. It is estimated that globally urban agriculture now produces fifteen percent
of all food consumed in urban areas, and that this percentage is likely to double
within twenty years, [UNCHS (Habitat), 2001].
Self-produced food in the urban areas provides nutritious food otherwise
unaffordable, replaces purchased staples or supplements these with more
nutritious foodstuff, affords savings which can be spent on non-produced
foodstuff or other needs and generates principal income which can be reinvested
in other urban businesses. Urban agriculture also provides employment to a large
number of urban residents. In Nairobi, for example, 25% of the population is
employed in urban agricultural activities. In addition, urban agriculture is one of
the several tools for making productive use of urban open spaces, treating and or
recovering urban waste and managing freshwater resources more effectively. The
relation between urban agriculture and waste management is most pronounced in
the use of organic wastes. Urban agriculture can indirectly improve urban water
management because green spaces with permeable land surfaces allow rainwater
and runoff to drain through the soil.
Intensive high value urban and urban agriculture has great potential in addressing
poverty through the creation of employment, improving nutrition for HIV/AIDS
sufferers and food security if given support. However, urban and peri-urban
agriculture has not gained enough support from governments in the Eastern and
Southern Africa region. Policy makers and senior managers need to be made
aware of the issues that need to be addressed to promote urban and peri-urban
agriculture.