FROM URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE TO MICRO-GARDENS: HOW TO ACHIEVE FRESH FOOD SECURITY IN DAKAR?

Depending on the city and its socio-geographical context, urban and peri-urban agriculture presents different types of production systems.
Considered as a way to alleviate poverty, this type of agriculture has gradually acquired certain legitimacy in urban projects.
In a study carried out in Dakar, we investigated six categories of stakeholders – from the agricultural and policy-making sectors – to analyze their perception of this type of agriculture in areas like Niayes (interdune depressions which very favorable to agriculture), and to characterize the production systems.
By adopting an innovative analytical approach, we were able to highlight the following:

• a typology of farms representing the diversity of production systems and household activities,
• an analysis of their location in four agricultural zones differentiated by urban proximity,
• the variability of the internal and external sustainability of farms,
• an analysis of multi-functionality of agriculture and agricultural areas based on the perception of the six categories of actors.

These elements provide new insights into various stakeholders.
However, in order to provide solutions for the various problems faced by this type of agriculture, we suggest scientific and technical solutions such as the creation of an agriculture observatory.

International Symposium on Urban and Peri-Urban Horticulture in the Century of Cities: Lessons, Challenges, Opportunitites

A. Ba, P. Sakho, C. Aubry

urban and peri-urban agriculture, typology, location, sustainability, multifunctionality, observatory, micro-gardens, Dakar, Senegal

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1021.3