Challenges and strategies among the poor: focus on urban agriculture in KwaMashu, Durban, South Africa
SOURCE: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2013
TITLE AUTHOR(S): H.Magidimisha, L.Chipungu, R.Awuorh-Hayangah
KEYWORDS: AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURE EDUCATION, KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, POVERTY, URBAN COMMUNITIES
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 8178
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/2465
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/2465
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2013
TITLE AUTHOR(S): H.Magidimisha, L.Chipungu, R.Awuorh-Hayangah
KEYWORDS: AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURE EDUCATION, KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, POVERTY, URBAN COMMUNITIES
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 8178
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/2465
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/2465
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Urban agriculture in South Africa historically has been labelled as an illegal activity. The problems caused by this labelling have been compounded by the traditional planning system in South Africa, which does not recognize urban agriculture as a part of the land use in the urban landscape. Despite its illegality, however, current evidence shows that it is commonly practiced by many poor households in developing countries. There is growing evidence that most countries are gradually recognizing the value of urban agriculture to poor households, and to this end they are beginning to realize the importance of incorporating it into their urban policy packages. Despite this recognition and acceptance of urban agriculture as a livelihood and food-security strategy among the urban poor, little attention is paid to it. This paper explores urban agriculture as one of the survival strategies among the urban poor in Durban's KwaMashu residential area. The focus is on the nature of urban agriculture and the competing challenges associated with it. At the core of some of the challenges are existing legislation and policies that seem to be unresponsive to urban agriculture. Despite this unresponsive legislation, we show that urban agriculture continues to flourish along sensitive areas such as river banks and on road right-of-ways. The paper concludes by arguing that the onus is on the local authorities to promote urban agriculture by putting in place mechanisms that should promote its growth and integrate it into mainstream development plans.-
Related Research Outputs:
- The impact of HIV/AIDS on land issues in Kwazulu-Natal province South Africa: case studies from Muden, Dondotha, Kwadumisa and Kwanyuswa
- Land redistribution for agricultural development: case studies in three provinces: final report, October
- Determinants of income mobility and household poverty dynamics in South Africa
- Children learn lessons of suffering
- Trends and policy challenges in the rural economy: four provincial case studies
- Visit to Italy for the purpose of attending 18th Symposium of the International Farming Systems Association at the Salesianum, Rome
- Pipe dream for the province's poor?
- Local knowledge and agricultural applications: lessons from a Ugandan parish
- Scenarios for livelihood creation in agriculture
- Report on experiences in the Amandlamadoda (menpower) sexual and reproductive project in Umkhanyakude, KwaZulu-Natal
- Growth, employment and distribution impacts of minerals dependency: four case studies
- What can a woman do with a camera?: turning the female gaze on poverty and HIV and AIDS in rural South Africa
- South Africa's agro-food sector and the global economic downturn
- The need for an engendered approach to agricultural technology
- Agricultural market reforms and the rural poor in South Africa
- The significance of African vegetables in ensuring food security for South Africa's rural poor
- African vegetables and food security for poor agrarian households in Limpopo province: effective but neglected indigenous knowledge under threat
- Effect of climate change on resource-poor small farmers
- Water use and nutrient content of crop and animal food products for improved household food security: A scoping study
- Psychological and physical co-morbidity among urban South African women