From Fred Itua, Abuja
President, Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has called on governments at all levels to create urban agriculture-friendly policies in order to bridge the rising food gaps in the world.
The former governor of Ekiti State said urban agriculture which involves the production, distribution, and marketing of food in cities and metropolitan areas, was a vital strategy for building the resilience of cities’ food supply, reducing poverty and increasing employment, as well as improving nutritional outcomes, and mitigating environmental degradation of urban spaces.
Fayemi made the appeal at the 2022 Brazil-Africa Forum held in Sao Paulo, Brazil with the theme “Sustainable Cities: Global Challenges, Local Solutions.
“Policies about urban agriculture must be improved for the enhancement of urban agriculture benefits as well as the reduction of the risks associated with public health and environmental hazards. Policy integration should pay attention to issues such as urban land use planning, health, waste management, social housing, slum upgrading, park, and nature management.”
He said African cities could draw useful lessons from the experience of Nairobi, Kenya.
“Once reluctant to formally support urban agriculture, Nairobi is now one of the most advanced cities in the sub-continent in its promotion of laws, policies, and programs to protect and support urban food production. Nairobi’s promotion and protection of the right to farm in the city has inspired other cities and the national government to promote and protect urban agriculture.
Fayemi also called on more cities to sign up for the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) that was launched in October 2015, and which is the first international protocol through which city leaders commit to developing sustainable food systems.”