Contribution of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture to Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Urban and peri-urban agriculture has a significant share in the food supply of many cities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and takes special care of urban diets, which include exotic or perishable vegetables, fresh milk and poultry products. In this way, UPA is significantly contributing to a higher variety of foods on the city markets, contributes to employment, livelihoods and poverty alleviation. The provision of most crops throughout the year depends largely on the availability of water for irrigation. Case studies from SSA are presented for illustration. Although many benefits derive from UPA, the production is often associated with health risks, for instance through the use of polluted urban water, which need to be minimized. The challenge for urban agriculture in Africa derives from being in most cases in a vacuum of semi-official recognition with limited active support from city authorities, or even in conflict with city planners or health authorities with respect to land tenure and water use. It is therefore stated that urban authorities, policy makers and planners need more data on the contribution of urban and peri-urban agriculture to urban food supply to give this agricultural sector appropriate recognition.