Counties should promote food grown​ in urban areas

 Counties should promote food grown​ in urban areas

Food is plenty but many people are dying of hunger.Food in the rural areas cannot reach markets because of various reasons such as bad roads,lack of transport and middlemen."The growth of urban agriculture has been buttressed by two important factors: the availability of non-built public land, even in central parts of the city, and the requests from people who want to use it to produce food,"Good urban agriculture depends crucially on producers being granted proper agricultural extension and advice, including assistance for selecting crops.poverty was synonymous with rural conditions, but the rapid urbanization of many developing countries has given birth to a large class of urban poor. Experience shows agriculture can and does respond opportunistically to demographic, economic, and land-use changes by inventing new modes and rediscovering traditional modes of providing for the urban population. Agricultural ​ activities ​ are finding niches in the urban areas.The worldwide urban population is expected to double in 30 years, but the numbers of urban poor are expected to increase at a greater rate. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030 would see an increase from 800 million to two billion urban people living in absolute poverty; UNDP estimated a 80 percent increase in urban poor during the 2010's and a decrease in rural poor during the same period. Estimates based on health and environmental conditions suggest about 800 million people in cities live in unhealthy conditions. Africa will become increasingly urban over the next 30 years, urban poverty and food insecurity could worsen if preventive measures are not taken.

Expansion of cities is driven by economic growth and/or by migration from rural to urban areas as agricultural and rural employment opportunities decline or lag behind population growth. Other factors which, in some cases, have contributed to the rapid urban expansion are: social unrest, natural disasters (drought), and lack of educational opportunities and medical facilities in rural areas.These areas also have high growth rates and receive up to 80 percent of the migrants from rural areas..With the advance in technology buyers can know the price of foodstuff at the touch of a button but how does it reach the markets.But Nairobi county has a plan to boost food production in urban areas."Urban" agriculture, as used here, refers to small areas (e.g. vacant plots, gardens, verges, balconies, containers) within the city for growing crops and raising chicken,pigs,rabbits and small livestock or milk cows for own-consumption or sale in neighbourhood markets. "Peri-urban" agriculture, as used here, refers to farm units close to town which operate intensive semi- or fully commercial farms to grow vegetables and other horticulture, raise chickens and other livestock, and produce milk and eggs.​ Urban agriculture occurs within and surrounding the boundaries of cities throughout the and includes products from crop and livestock agriculture in the urban.Often multiple farming and gardening systems exist in and near a single city.The​ quantity of food available increases. Poor urban dwellers often lack the purchasing capacity to acquire adequate amounts of food. Urban agriculture appears to reduce food insecurity by providing direct access to home-produced food to households and to the informal market. Much of it is for own consumption with occasional surpluses sold into the local market. Even for people who have little or no land part-time farming of vegetables can provide food and income. Simple, popular hydroponics or substrate culture in beds can produce high value and nutritious vegetables on surfaces as small as one metre.Urban agriculture also appears to enhance food security during times of crisis and severe scarcity. Whether caused by national crises (civil war, widespread drought, currency devaluations, inability to import, etc.) or household crises (illness, health, sudden unemployment, etc.), This food plays an important role in providing emergency supplies of food.What these diverse activities have in common - and in some cases what sets them apart from rural agriculture - is proximity to large settlements of people, thereby creating​ opportunities as well as risks. The opportunities include:​

· less need for packaging, storage and transportation of food;​

· potential agricultural jobs and incomes;​

· non-market access to food for poor consumers;​

· availability of fresh, perishable food;​

· proximity to services, including waste treatment facilities;​

· waste recycling and re-use possibilities.

Urban farming enhances the freshness of perishable foods reaching urban consumers, increasing overall variety and the nutritional value of food available. While not universal, case studies have shown differences in nutrition, especially among children, when poor urban families farm. An important reason appears to be that food produced by consumers or in close proximity to them is often fresher than food that travels long distance to markets.Let other other counties emulate Nairobi county and vision 2030 will be realized.

By

Veronica Onjoro

PHD student mount Kenya university and a researcher​

Mombasa​

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