The Living Garden : a Bio-intensive Approach to Urban Agriculture in Ethiopia

Yilma Getachew

In: UA Magazine 6 - Transition to Ecological Urban Agriculture: A Challenge

The organic approach to food production has long been considered by Ethiopian decision-makers as one which leads to poor yields, is backward and a reason for decaying farming systems. However, the reality is completely different. Recently, urban agriculture is accepted as a new and important frontier to food production and even as a tool to fight poverty and environmental pollution. The bio-intensive approach to urban agriculture is simply to rely more and more on natural processes rather than on external inputs resulting in a simpler, more affordable and local approach, leading to greater equity, replicability and sustainability. This article is aimed at sharing the author's long years of experience in Ethiopia in the effort to promote urban agriculture.