Urban farming helps transform food systems by making them greener, more sustainable, and more resilient. It offers residents the option to live a more holistic lifestyle by growing vegetables and fruits in any environment. This provides a source of healthy nutrients, keeps the environment fresh, and creates a continuous cycle where everything is used to its fullest potential and nothing is wasted. Urban farming is a circular economy project in action. It also increases accessibility to food, reduces hunger and poverty in rural and urban areas, and contributes to the provision of decent jobs and economic growth.
“It makes me happy to see that people who could not afford to buy land, synthetic fertilizer, and herbicides can use our methods to grow veggies either in small open spaces, scrape plastics, or anything that could be useful by applying our Compost Organic Fertilizer.”
Image Credit to Geographical Magazine
Urban Farming in Nigeria: The Reality
Urban farming is not only a fact but also a reality in Nigeria. There are many examples of urban farming initiatives that are thriving in different cities across the country. For instance, let’s look at the story of Kano and recent developments in urban farming especially with recent trends in the cost of living crisis. Kano is one of the most populous cities in Nigeria and Africa. There is a known network of over 2,000 urban farmers who grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, mushrooms, and fish in various locations. Their cultivation fields range from rooftops, balconies, shipping containers and so much more. They deploy a wide range of technology from, hydroponics systems, to aquaponics systems. These urban farmers are supported by an organization called Vertical Farm Ventures Limited which in 2021 launched a project called Urban Permaculture Project. The project got the attention of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR, and was featured on their official LinkedIn page and website read more here. This project provides training, seeds, inputs, market linkages, and advocacy for urban agriculture to farmers across Kano City.
Hydroponic Farming
Urban Farming in Nigeria: The Myth
Despite the facts and reality of urban farming in Nigeria, there are still some myths and misconceptions that hinder its development and acceptance. Some of these myths are:
Is Urban farming illegal and unsafe? Some people believe that urban farming is against the law and poses health risks to the urban population. However, this is not true. Urban farming is legal in Nigeria as long as it does not violate any existing regulations or cause nuisance to others. Urban farming can also be safe if proper practices are followed, such as using organic methods, avoiding contaminated water and soil, washing produce before consumption or sale, and vaccinating animals.
It is believed that engaging youth is the key to making the transition towards sustainable and healthy agriculture and food systems. Between 2015 and 2030 close to 2.1 billion babies will be born worldwide. Most of these children will be born in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where agriculture and food systems constitute the largest employer, and where the needs in terms of availability, access, and quality of food and nutrition are greatest.
“The youth needs to be recognized as agents of change and not only receivers.”
The lack of engagement of the youth in transforming food production systems makes traditional subsistence agriculture not attractive to the youth, and it is essential to transform agriculture and food systems in a way that is intellectually challenging and economically rewarding. This in return urban farming will wave up the challenge of limited access to land, natural resources, infrastructure, finance, technology, market, knowledge, and poor working conditions in the sector. There is a high risk of informality, casual labor, underemployment, child labor, forced labor, and working poverty, all associated with a lack of youth participation in decision-making related to agriculture and food systems.
Hydroponic Farming
Urban farming doesn’t demand substantial capital: Its efficient use of limited space, vertical gardening, and affordable technologies make it accessible to many. Small-scale setups, like rooftop gardens or community plots, enable individuals and communities to grow fresh produce without major financial investments, fostering sustainability and food security in urban areas.
Finally, urban farming can improve food security, nutrition, health, income, and environmental sustainability in Nigerian cities. However, urban farming also faces some challenges and needs more support from the government, the private sector, civil society, and the public. By debunking the myths and promoting the facts and the reality of urban farming in Nigeria, we can create a more resilient and livable urban future for all.
This article was written by Najeeb Yunusa Hassan. Najeeb is the Co-founder of Vertical Farm Ventures Limited located in Kano, Northern Nigeria. He is an innovator and a passionate robotics engineer. You can contact him via his LinkedIn page – https://ng.linkedin.com/in/najeebyunusa
