Urban and peri-urban farming (UPA)

This refers to the practice of cultivating or producing, processing and distributing food in and around urban or peri-urban areas.

Or

It is the growing of plants and raising animals within or around cities

Features of UPA

• Practiced on small plots/space
• Uses more labor than machines
• It uses more organic inputs than inorganic inputs
• High value crops and animals are kept.
• It is less dependent on natural factors such as rain but relies on artificial supply of water.

Benefits of Urban and peri-urban farming.

• Poverty reduction through creating low-cost employment to the farmers.
• Waste recycling.
• Food security and nutrition i.e. there is production of highly nutritious crops.
• Creation of employment
• Government revenue

Problems associated with urban and peri-urban farming

• Some crops such as maize are breeding ground for vectors such as mosquitoes.
• Limited land
• Raising livestock in the city leads air pollution
• High labor costs.
• Encroachment on swamps
• High risk of theft
• High risk of disease transmission from animals to people.
• Limited research.

Measures to promote UPA

• Construction of marketing facilities for selling produce
• Subsidization of inputs
• Incorporation of UPA in school curriculum
• Providing credit facilities
• Establishing demonstration farms
• Conduction research
• Provision of agricultural extension services.

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Dr. Bbosa Science