An overview of urban agriculture practices

Submitted by Ase Johannessen | published 12th Apr 2022 | last updated 7th Apr 2023
Image Credits/Crédits d'images: Institut des Métiers de la Ville

Urban agriculture in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The Institut des Métiers de la Ville (IMV) has been running the AULNA (Urban Agriculture Low Space No Space) pilot project. 

Adaptation options

Urban agriculture is an adaptation strategy that contributes to developing the resilience of cities and can help alleviate food insecurity. It is also a way to capture rainfall, mitigate floods and help infiltration of water to the soil and thus recharge the groundwater. It has helped people in many cities to enhance their nutritional levels and provide supplementary income. The examples below illustrate the various models of urban agriculture from Africa.

Agroforestry

Agroforestry in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Agroforestry in Chad

Rooftop farming

Rooftop farming, Greater Cairo Region, Egypt

Micro–gardening 

Micro–gardening in Dakar, Senegal, takes off
Food for schools in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Urban farming (often both livestock and crops)

Urban farming in Morogoro and Mbeya, Tanzania
Farming and livestock in Nakuru town, Kenya
Casablanca's 360 degree urban agriculture
Urban agriculture in Nairobi