Urban agriculture under threat: the land security question in Kano, Nigeria

Lynch, Kenny ORCID: 0000-0002-5296-2864, Binns, James Anthony(Tony) and Olofin, Emmanuel (2001) Urban agriculture under threat: the land security question in Kano, Nigeria. Cities, 18 (3). pp. 159-171. doi:10.1016/S0264-2751(01)00008-7

[img]
Preview
Text
Urban agriculture under threat.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (330kB) | Preview
[img]
Preview
Image
Fig. 1 Kano Main Horticulture Production Sites.pdf - Supplemental Material
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike 4.0.

Download (21kB) | Preview
[img]
Preview
Image
Fig. 2 Sketch Map and Cross-section of the Kofar Ruwa Production Site.pdf - Supplemental Material
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike 4.0.

Download (32kB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the issue of providing food to the rapidly growing urban populations in poor countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. Much emphasis has been given in recent years to the growing of basic foodstuffs in urban and peri-urban areas. While there is a considerable body of literature which views urban agriculture in a relatively positive light, other less extensive literature raises concern about its impact on environment and people. The literature shows that urban agriculture provides farmers with important employment and food provisioning opportunities that would not otherwise be available. However, empirical evidence presented here from the city of Kano in northern Nigeria suggests that such activities and livelihoods are being threatened by acute problems of tenure insecurity and encroaching land development. It is suggested that local authorities have a key role to play in enabling and supporting urban cultivation, since there are city-wide benefits to be gained from such activities, including food supply and employment creation among low-income residents, and flood control. More research is needed to clarify certain issues, not in the least to answer the expressed concerns about the impact of urban agriculture on environment and health.

Item Type: Article
Article Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Urban agriculture, Kano, Nigeria, land tenure, security
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions: Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas: Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User: Kenny Lynch
Date Deposited: 29 Feb 2016 16:24
Last Modified: 31 Aug 2023 08:59
URI: https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/3136

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record

University Of Gloucestershire

Bookmark and Share

Find Us On Social Media:

Social Media Icons Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube Pinterest Linkedin

Other University Web Sites

University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2RH. Telephone +44 (0)844 8010001.