| As our readers will have noticed it took us more time to develop this issue of the UA-magazine. This is mostly because it includes three articles based on a systematisation of experiences gained by the partners in the RUAF programme as well as an analysis of recently prepared policy documents on urban agriculture, which took some time to prepare. As a result, this issue was delayed but also contains 20 more pages than usual. We would appreciate your comments on the articles and welcome reports on your own experiences with participatory policy formulation and action planning on urban agriculture in other cities. On the back page of this issue you will find the topics that we are planning to deal with, in the UA Magazine in the coming two years. We look forward to receiving your contributions to the coming issues. |  |
René van Veenhuizen
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture is a dynamic concept that comprises a variety of livelihood systems, ranging from
subsistence production and processing at household level to fully commercialised agriculture. It takes place in different locations and occurs under varying sociopolitical conditions and policy regimes. This diversity of urban agriculture is one of its main attributes, as it can be adapted to a wide range of urban situations and to the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders.
Joanna Wilbers and Henk de Zeeuw
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agriculture
In a growing number of cities, local governments have recognised the importance of urban agriculture and are designing new policies related to urban agriculture or are reformulating existing ones. In this article the authors discuss some requirements for effective policy and subsequently use these criteria to critically review some of the policies on urban agriculture that have been drawn up recently (1). It is hoped that the reader will derive some lessons that may be of help to develop effective policies on urban agriculture in other cities.
Henk de Zeeuw, Marielle Dubbeling, Joanna Wilbers and René van Veenhuizen
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
Once municipal authorities understand that urban agriculture can contribute to some of their policy goals, they often seek to facilitate the development of urban agriculture by means of pro-active policies and intervention strategies that enhance the socio-economic and nutritional benefits of urban agriculture, while reducing the associated health and environmental risks. In this way, municipal policy makers and support institutions can substantially contribute to the development of safe and sustainable urban agriculture.
Henk de Zeeuw and Marielle Dubbeling
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
In the foregoing two articles in this issue, criteria for an effective policy on urban agriculture were
discussed and various policy measures and instruments for a municipal policy on urban agriculture were presented. But how should a participatory policy formulation process be organised? How can it be initiated? Who should participate and when? What steps should be followed, and what recommendations should be taken into account? This article describes the importance of interactive or participatory processes of policy formulation, details the different steps to be taken and highlights lessons learned thus far by RUAF partners and various other organisations.
Gunther Merzthal
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
In Peru urbanisation is intense, especially in metropolitan Lima. Massive migration resulted in urbanisation of poverty, which in the case of Lima is concentrated in the expanding outer zones of the city. In this context of an impoverished urban-rural interface, urban agriculture is a promising alternative that can make an important contribution to the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals for fighting poverty and ensuring food security. This article describes experiences in two districts of metropolitan Lima: Villa Maria del Triunfo and Lurigancho-Chosica.
CAI Jianming, LIU Shenghe, YANG Zhenshan, YUAN Hong and JIANG Fang
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
This paper presents the main points of the draft policy guidelines for development of urban agriculture in Beijing. These guidelines are currently awaiting final approval by the Beijing People’s Congress
and will be an important milestone in the development of urban and periurban agriculture in the city of Beijing in the coming decades.
Nelson Obirih-Opareh and Theophilus Otchere-Larbi
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
More than 40 percent of Ghana’s 20 million people lived in urban areas in 2000, and the country’s urban population was growing at an estimated 4 percent per annum (GSS, 2000, Cofie et al. 2003), with some cities growing at an annual rate of up to 4.4 percent. This increase is taking place at a time when the rural population is aging and agricultural productivity in the rural areas is declining. As a result, an increasing number of city dwellers have resorted to urban agriculture, using urban runoff/wastewater and vacant open spaces for food production. These activities contribute to the food supply, employment creation and livelihood support in Accra.
Takawira Mubvami
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
Bulawayo is Zimbabwe’s second largest city. Once Zimbabwe’s industrial hub, the city has lost most of its major industries, through outright closure or relocation to the capital city, Harare. The city is thus
home to a relatively poor urban population, compared to the population of Harare. A policy framework on urban agriculture is under development since 1996, and is supported by RUAF.
Dick Foeken
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
Despite its importance as a livelihood source, farming in towns is (still) illegal in many African
countries. By-laws frequently date from colonial times and forbid all agricultural activity within the
boundaries of urban centres, as it does not fit in the western perception of what constitutes ‘urban’ (e.g. the city-is-beautiful idea) and because it is believed to cause all kinds of environmental hazards. However, as the practice has become increasingly widespread over the last two decades, government policy has generally changed from being mainly restrictive to being tolerant or even encouraging.
Ivana Christina Lovo and Zilá Raquel Pereira Costa
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
In 2003, the project “Optimisation of Use of Vacant Land for Urban Agriculture� started in Governador
Valadares. This project was promoted by the Urban Management Program for Latin America and the Caribbean (UMPLAC/UNHABITAT), the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada and IPES – Promotion of Sustainable Development in Peru (see also UAM no 11).
Stanley Visser
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
Urban agriculture in Cape Town principally involves vegetable cultivation, although the sight of roaming cattle in the streets is also familiar to many inhabitants of the city. During the past five years, the
city of Cape Town has been formulating a policy on urban agriculture, which will mainly assist in the improvement of the lives of its citizens in terms of food security and economic development.
Wendy Mendes
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
Although Vancouver is a city of soaring glass towers and modern urban amenities, it is also located
within one of the most productive agricultural regions in Canada. Combine the favourable climatic
conditions with municipal policies that encourage sustainable development and the result is a city
in which urban agriculture is thriving.
Rodger Cooley
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
There is a growing belief among Chicago citizens that all residents should have access to safe, culturally acceptable and nutritionally adequate food through a sustainable food system that
maximises community self-reliance and social justice. A variety of efforts are underway to raise the
level of public discourse on this issue in order to design a sustainable food system that will be
able to foster the development of community food security in Chicago.
João Luiz Homem de Carvalho
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
PROVE – Small Agricultural Production Verticalization Programme - is a programme designed to promote small-scale agricultural production, processing and trade. It involves many urban and periurban agricultural systems, including vegetable gardening, fruit growing and livestock keeping. Intervention is at the individual and/or collective level, especially aimed at lower income groups.
Alexander C. Thornton
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
The promotion of land redistribution, especially for use by the urban poor to meet subsistence needs, often collides with historical and political barriers. Findings from a recent PhD case study conducted
by the author in a small former homeland (or black reserve) in South Africa reveal that the availability of vacant land is often not known to those who may seek to use it for urban agriculture.
Ssemwanga Margaret Azuba and Sarah McCans
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
This paper presents the process, experiences and lessons learnt pertaining to urban agriculture policy change in Kampala. Specifically, it chronicles the legal and policy framework related to urban agriculture before 2001, and the participatory process culminating in the formulation of the current Bills for Ordinances that will serve to promote and regulate urban agriculture in Kampala City.
Raul Terrile and Antonio Lattuca
In: UA Magazine 16 - Formulating Effective Policies on Urban Agrilculture
While the city of Kampala principally adopted a regulatory approach to urban agriculture based on a system of permits, licenses, control and use of legal instruments, the city of Rosario placed its emphasis on development of an enabling policy framework based on economic incentives, communicative and educative instruments and design instruments (see also article De Zeeuw and Wilbers in this issue).
Please find the sections on Books, Websites and Events in the attachment.
FORMULATING EFFECTIVE POLICIES ON URBAN AGRICULTURE
ISSN 1571-6244
No. 16, October 2006
UA Magazine is published three times a year by the Network of Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF), under the Cities Farming for the Future Programme, which is financed by DGIS, the Netherlands, and IDRC, Canada.
UA Magazine is translated into French, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic, and distributed in separate editions through the RUAF regional networks, and is also available on www.ruaf.org.
The RUAF Partners are
Editors, No. 16
This issue has been edited by René van Veenhuizen (Responsible Editor) with the
ETC-UA team and the RUAF Partners.
Web Editing, Events, and Books
Marije Pouw and René van Veenhuizen
Administration
Ellen Radstake
Language Editor
Catharina de Kat-Reynen
Design, Layout and Printing
Koninklijke BDU
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The editor: ruaf@etcnl.nl
Address
Urban Agriculture Magazine
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