Integration of Agriculture in Urban Land Use Planning
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Integration of Agriculture in Urban Land Use Planning
Urban agriculture is a relatively new urban issue, in which different sectors and institutions are involved.
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It requires the development of new planning practices, or the adaptation of existing ones, and supportive policies. The preceding chapter argues that participatory and multi-stakeholder processes and tools are required in this process. This chapter elaborates on this argument by focusing on urban land use planning.
It takes a South East African perspective and analyses the different paradigms, approaches and tools towards urban policy making and planning related to urban agriculture. Major issues and challenges include the distribution, control of and access to the use of land and other resources, conflicts between uses and users and the regulatory framework for urban agriculture.
Introduction
Urban agriculture is increasingly becoming an important activity in urban economies, both in the South and the North. It can contribute significantly to the well being of farmers and other citizens, if properly managed. The growth of human settlements creates a competition between the traditional urban land uses and urban agriculture.
Whilst regional and urban planners have generally accepted the peri-urban zone as a mixed zone in terms of land use categories (including urban agriculture), the intra-urban zone in most cases remains a preserve for "traditional" urban uses.
As is argued in this book, urban agriculture, however, has the potential to prosper in modern cities because of its multiple functions and relations with city issues. Cities provide easy access to markets and a prevailing high demand for food. Other reasons for agriculture in the city are reduced transport costs for produce and an abundance of resources and opportunities (such as recycled waste, under-employment and the availability of urban labour).