Pay Drechsel, Robert C. Abaidoo, Philip Amoah and Olufunke O. Cofie

In: UA Magazine 2 - Livestock in and around cities

Livestock production is a vital part of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in Kumasi, where many crop farmers benefit from cheap poultry manure available in large quantities. However, with increasing competition for this resource, the manure is seldom stored long enough to prevent the contamination of food and water with pathogens. While the actual incidence of disease related to this contamination has not yet been assessed, interventions to prevent the spread of infection should focus first of all on the consumer household. Farmers' access to clean irrigation water is another important step but only makes sense if farmers' own practices do not contribute to water pollution.