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The Palgrave Handbook of Urban Development Planning in Africa

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Abstract

This chapter interrogates the issue of urban agriculture (UA) which is defined as the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals within metropolitan centres in Africa. This chapter therefore synthesised 35 studies on UA in African cities. UA has been considered a key strategy to mitigate the increasing food insecurity, especially of low-income urban residents. The objectives of this chapter are to determine trends in UA in African cities; assess the nature and role of UA and analyse the empirical findings from UA studies. Discussions on UA are presented in terms of study designs, theories underpinning UA studies in Africa, location of urban plots and land rights, factors driving UA, socio-economic characteristics of urban farmers as well as challenges encountered in UA. It is noted that there is no clear policy and legislation is governing UA in Africa and yet UA is a source of livelihoods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, Maun, Botswana

    Reniko Gondo & Joseph E. Mbaiwa

Authors
  1. Reniko Gondo
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  2. Joseph E. Mbaiwa
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Correspondence to Reniko Gondo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geneva, Switzerland

    Meleckidzedeck Khayesi

  2. Department of Geography, Egerton University, Egerton, Kenya

    Francis Nyongesa Wegulo

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Gondo, R., Mbaiwa, J.E. (2022). Agriculture. In: Khayesi, M., Wegulo, F.N. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Urban Development Planning in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06089-2_4

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