Urban Farming and Its Potentials for Waste Recycling
[1]
Glory E. Edet , Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
[2]
Nsikak-Abasi A. Etim , Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Cities in Nigeria are generating increasing volume of wastes which are usually dumped in open landfills or into water bodies. These practices pose very serious risk and threat to public health and the environment coupled with expensive amount of money involved in waste disposal. This study however examined the practice of urban farming and identified the strategies adopted by farmers in organic waste management. Through the multi-stage sampling technique, 60 urban farmers were identified and sampled with the aid of questionnaire. Data were analyzed using table and histograms. Result of the analysis revealed that urban farming was practiced on subsistence level as small holdings of farmland averaging 89.6m2 were cropped by farmers. Results also showed that urban farming was dominated by women who had intermediate education. Findings further revealed that considerable amount of wastes were generated and utilized by farmers on the farms. Results underscore the need to include urban farming in urban planning and development policies as a suitable urban greening strategy. Policies should also be formulated to provide cultivable land for urban farmers to encourage the expansion of production.
[1]
Ashebir, D., Pasquini, M. and Bihon, W. (2007). Urban Agriculture in Mekelle, Tigray State, Ethiopia: Principle Characteristics, Opportunities and Constraints for Further Research and Development. Cities, 24:218-228.
[2]
Bakker, N., Dubbeling, M., Gundel, S., Sabel-Koschella, U. and Zeeuw, de Henk (eds) (2000). Growing Cities, Growing Food. Urban Agriculture on the Policy Agenda. Dentsche Stiftung fuur Internationale Entwickling, Feldafing, Germany.
[3]
Bourque, M. (2000). Policy Options for Urban Agriculture in N. Bakker, M. Dubbeling, S. Gundell, U. Sabel-Koschella and H. de Zeenw eds. Growing Cities, Growing Food: Urban Agriculture on the Policy Agenda. German Foundation for International Development, Feldafing, Germany.
[4]
Bryld, E. (2003). Potentials, Problems and Policy implications for urban agriculture in developing countries.Agriculture and Human Values 20: 79-86.
[5]
Drescher, A. W. (1996). Urban Micro Farming in Central Southern Africa: A Case Study of Lusaka, Zambia. African Urban Quarterly, 11:229-248.
[6]
Drescher, A. W. (1999). Urban Agriculture in the Seasonal Tropics of Central and Southern Africa: A Case Study of Lusaka, Zambia. In Kocs, M., MacRac, R., Mougoet, L. J. A. and Welsh, J. (eds) for Hunger-Proof Cities: Sustainable Food Urban Food Systems, IDRC, Ottawa, Canada.
[7]
Etim, N. A. (1998). Assessment of the Socio-economic and Environmental Benefits of Urban Farming in Akwa Ibom State. Unpublished B. Agric. Project. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
[8]
Etim, N. A. and Ofem, B. (2005). Urban Farming and Household Waste Management in Uyo Urban: Implications for Environmental Harmony. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment, 2(2): 74-80.
[9]
Etim, N. A. and Edet, G. E. (2013). Adoption of Inorganic Fertilizer by Resource Poor Cassava Farmers in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Research, 2(1): 94-98.
[10]
Etim, N. A. and Okon, S. (2013). Sources of Technical Efficiency among Subsistence Maize Farmers in Uyo, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural and Food Sciences, 1(4):48-53.
[11]
Etim, N. A. and Edet, G. E. (2014). Factors Determining Urban Poverty of Farming Households in a Tropical Region. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 4(3):322-335.
[12]
Ezedinma, C. and Chukuezi, C. (1999). A Comparative Analysis of Urban Agricultural Enterprises in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Environment and Urbanization, 11:135-144.
[13]
Hovorka, A. and Lee-Smith, D. (2006). Gendering the Urban Agenda. In van Veenhuizen, R. (ed) Cities Farming for the Future: Urban Agriculture for Green and Productive Cities, RUAF Foundation, IIRR and ETC Urban Agriculture, Philippines, pp. 125-144.
[14]
Kaseva, M. E. and Gupta, S. K. (1996). Recycling an Environmentally Friendly and Income Generating Activity towards Sustainable Solid Waste Management. Case Study – Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 17:299-309.
[15]
Khai, N. M., Ha, P. Q. and Oborn, I. (2007). Nutrient flows in Small-scale Peri-urban Vegetable Farming Systems in South East Asia: A Case Study in Hanoi. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 122, 192-202.
[16]
Korner, I., Saborit-Sanchez, I. and Aguilera-Corrales, Y. (2007). Proposal for the Integration of Decentralized Composting of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste into the Waste Management System of Cuba. Waste Management, 28(1):64-72.
[17]
Madaleno, I. (2000). Urban Agriculture in Belem, Brazil. Cities, Vol. 17:73-77.
[18]
Maxwell, D, Levin, C. and Csete, J. (1998). Does Urban Agriculture help Prevent Malnutrition? Evidence from Kampala, Food Policy, 23: 411-424.
[19]
Mougeot, L. (1994). Urban Food Production: Evolution Official Support and Significance. People Feeding Cities Series 8. Ottawa: IDRC.
[20]
Mougeot, L. J. A. (2000). Achieving Urban Food and Nutrition Security in the Developing World: The Hidden Significance of Urban Agriculture. A 2020 Vision for Food, Agriculture and the Environment, Focus 3, Brief 6 of 10, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
[21]
Rabinovitch, J. and Schmetzer, R. (1997). Urban Agriculture: Food, Jobs and Sustainable Cities. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development 2: 44-45.
[22]
Sawio, C. J. (1994). Who are the Farmers of Dar es Salaam? In Egziabher, A. G., Lee-Smith, D., Maxwell, D. G., Memon, P. A., Mougeot, L. J. A. and Sawio, C. J. (eds) Cities Feeding People: Am Examination of Urban Agriculture in East Africa, IDRC, Ottawa, Canada, 23-44.
[23]
Shackleton, C. M., Pasquini, M. W. and Drescher, A. W. (2009) eds. African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture. Earthscan, London.
[24]
Udoh, E. J. and Etim, N. A. (2008). Measurement of Farm Level Efficiency of Water-leaf (Talinum traingulare) Production among City Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Environment, 3(2):47-54.
[25]
UNDP (United Nations Development Program) 1996. Urban Agriculture, Food, Jobs, Sustainable Cities. Volume 1, Habitat II Publication Series, New York
