Because of the resources needed to engage in urban agriculture, even for small
scale producers, UA is not primarily the accidental or temporary business of
recent migrants from rural areas (Drakakis-Smith, 1992: 5). Back in 1958, in the
small town of Pointe Noire, Vennetier (1961: 72) had found that the largest
fields were in hands of people who had been living for 5 - 20 years in that city.
More than 60% of Lusaka's urban farmers had resided there for more than 5 years
before starting their plot gardens; nearly 45% had not farmed for the first 10
years of residence (Sanyal, 1986: 15). In Nairobi, urban farmers average
period of residence was 20.4 years and 85% had resided for at least 5 years, 57% for 15
years or more, and 15% for more than 40 years (Freeman, 1991:137). Tricaud's
(1988: 8) survey of 100 gardeners in Freetown and Ibadan, Sawio's study (1993) in
Dar es Salaam and others show similar findings. Most urban farmers have part or
full-time jobs. Even in small Pointe Noire, only 17 out of 266 interviewed
farming heads of household could be described as jobless; the rest were
nonskilled manual workers, construction workers, and mechanics (Vennetier, 1961:
72). In Addis Ababa, most urban crop producers in Egziabher's sample initially
worked in the informal sector. They then became agricultural leaseholders and
workers prior to squatting on public land and setting up this cooperative
(Egziabher, 1994: 92).
Go back to Table of Contents: Urban Food Production by Luc Mougeot
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revised, June 12,1995
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