The time is ripe for African countries to grow their urban agriculture
As COVID-19 strains urban food systems, cities can innovate to grow more locally and provide jobs for young people
By Esther Ngumbi
Reuters
July 8, 2021
Esther Ngumbi is an Assistant Professor of Entomology in the African American Studies Department at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Excerpt:
Importantly, African countries should not seek to simply copy existing urban agriculture models but inspire new designs that utilize materials and resources that are available in African countries. Alternatively, African countries can strengthen existing urban growing models and prototypes that are already working. For example, In Uganda, vertically stacked wooden crate units are a local and practical method to farm in urban cities. In Kenya and Ghana, sack gardens made from locally available sisal fibers that are cheap represent a local and practical form of a vertical farm.
In parallel with the strategies, African countries should continue to create the spaces where youth can access land to carry out urban agriculture.
Other actionable steps that can help grow urban agriculture to meet the food needs is setting up funds to exclusively be used to support young people who venture into growing food to feed urban dwelling populations. African governments, African Development Bank, organizations like USAID, and private foundations such as Mastercard Foundation, and other African based foundations can make this happen.
Complementing funding sources is the need for training, retraining and access to urban agriculture training. Those who venture into urban agriculture should further have access to agricultural extension and other services to ensure that they run profitable urban agriculture ventures. Universities and Non-Government Organization can use this opportunity to train young people and offer other valuable courses. Training should also include covering topics such as creating an urban agriculture business plan.
There is need for African governments to build databases and creating inventories of the urban agriculture initiatives across the African continent. Other resources including available support materials such as the United Nations framework on urban farming are important.
