期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2006
卷号：8
期号：1
页码：70-70
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：Macro-economic volatility characterizing most developing nations in Africa has resulted in transitory
and chronic food insecurity among urban households. Urban agriculture is emerging as one of the
alternative coping strategies for urban households especially against the backdrop of land and
agrarian reforms sweeping the region. Thus the main objective of this study was to determine the
contribution of the urban maize sub sector to household staple requirements in Bindura town of
Zimbabwe.
A multi stage sampling approach was developed to select 50 households from high and low-density
areas of the town. Data was for this research was elicited using structured questionnaires and key
informant interviews with stakeholders such as the local council and government departments.
The results of the study revealed that urban agriculture contributed about 57% of the households¡¯
yearly maize requirements. In addition, the gross margin was Z$ 356,313 per hectare on an
average land holding of 1.1 hectares. Despite the pre-eminence of this activity, most urban farmers
were not aware of the by laws regulating the use of urban land. Extensive land degradation is
largely attributed to institutional failure. There is need to align urban agriculture with the broader
needs of agriculture through effective stakeholder involvement from implementing agencies to
policy makers. It is also expedient to craft national environmental programs to promote long-term
environmental sustainability.
