Urban and peri-urban development in practice: FAO’s approach

Urban and peri-urban horticulture (UPH) helps to grow greener cities by contributing to , employment, and community well-being. FAO’s Programme for Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture has adopted a five-point approach to the of the sector

Ensure political and institutional demarcate peri-urban zones for horticulture commitment. Although UPH is a reality or combine UPH with compatible uses, such 1in most developing cities, it often goes as green belts. In urban areas, it supports unrecognized in agricultural policies programmes for household and community and urban planning. The essential first step . FAO projects promote rooftop towards of urban collection systems to harvest rainwater, and and peri-urban horticulture is the official drip irrigation to reduce water consumption. recognition of its positive role in urban development, particularly in the nutrition Ensure product quality while protecting the and livelihoods of the urban poor. FAO has environment. FAO uses Farmer Field been instrumental in raising awareness of 3Schools to promote intensification and UPH among policy makers in Africa and diversification of horticultural Latin America and the Caribbean. It assists production. Field schools introduce small- governments in framing measures to scale growers to Integrated Production and promote UPH development as part of Protection Management (which reduces the national food security strategies, and advises use of toxic chemicals to control pests and city authorities on integrating horticulture diseases), and to improved cultivars and into urban master development plans. cropping practices adapted to local conditions. By fostering good agricultural Secure land and water for horticulture. practices, field schools help to build Political and institutional support sustainable production systems that are 2facilitates the legal measures needed to environmentally friendly and ensure the secure land for UPH, especially market safety and quality of produce. FAO projects . Often, the process begins by encourage the use of organic in registering informal groups of growers as urban environments and train vegetable associations. Once the land and its users growers in the safe of wastewater have been identified, city authorities process for irrigation. their requests for temporary permits or long- term leases. FAO encourages planners to Ensure participation by all stakeholders in the Secure new markets for fruit and vegetables. UPH sector. The primary beneficiaries of In developing countries, fruit and 4 FAO interventions in support of 5vegetable intake is far below commercial UPH development are recommended levels. To promote low-income, small-scale vegetable growers, consumption, FAO supports who have very limited access to the services diversification, improvements in storage and and inputs needed to increase the quantity processing, public information campaigns, and quality of production. Low output and labelling of produce, and the creation of low incomes perpetuate their poverty. FAO neighbourhood collection points and fosters the professionalization of small-scale markets. It encourages growers’ associations growers by securing access to training, tools to explore new channels to consumers, such and inputs – especially quality seed and as farmers’ markets and supply contracts planting materials – and to micro-credit. Its with restaurants and supermarkets. Niche projects encourage growers to form markets for herbs, spices and organic producer associations (which help them to produce are another profitable alternative. reduce their costs along the value chain) and FAO supports school programmes, facilitate linkages with extension, research, which provide children with gardening city administrators, private supply services experience and lay the foundations for daily and development NGOs. fruit and vegetable consumption at school and at home.

FAO projects help governments and city administrations to optimize policies, institutional frameworks and support services for UPH, to improve production and marketing systems, and to enhance the horticulture value chain

Plurinational State of Bolivia Democratic Republic Nicaragua In El Alto municipality, FAO of the Congo This project will provide drip trained some 1 500 low-income FAO is supporting horticulture irrigation systems and training households in organic development in five cities. The in intensive vegetable cultivation of fruit, vegetables project has introduced production to some 9 500 low- and herbs in small . improved vegetable varieties, income beneficiaries. To ensure The gardens provide fresh installed or upgraded 40 , beneficiaries will produce all year round for irrigation structures, and be trained to operate and home consumption and sale. trained more than 10 000 maintain UPH infrastructure. Funding: Belgium growers in good agricultural Funding: Spain practices. Burundi Funding: Belgium Rwanda This project is helping to FAO advised the Kigali city establish a UPH programme in Guatemala administration on measures the capital, Bujumbura. It will Launched in 2010, this project aimed at integrating form a UPH consultative seeks to enhance the food horticulture into its long-term committee, chaired by the security and incomes of 11 500 urban development plan. The mayor, and improve access to residents of Guatemala City project also assisted in credit, inputs and training for and surrounding areas by establishing 40 micro-gardens 7 500 to 10 000 residents who improving the availability of and introducing rainwater practise horticulture. good quality water for harvesting systems. Funding: Belgium vegetable production. Funding: Italy, City of Rome Funding: Spain Senegal Contact Colombia Namibia In collaboration with the Programme for Urban and Peri-urban Assistance from FAO and other Target beneficiaries were Ministry of , FAO Horticulture organizations has helped to unemployed slum dwellers in helped to introduce micro- Production and Protection introduce various types of the cities of Windhoek and gardens in low-income areas of Division (AGP) urban gardening – including Rundu. The project helped to . In 2008, the programme Food and Agriculture Organization backyard plots and micro- establish community won UN-HABITAT’s Dubai of the United Nations gardens on terraces and demonstration plots and train Award for Best Practices to Viale delle Terme di Caracalla rooftops – to 50 000 residents groups of young vegetable Improve the Living 00153 Rome, Italy of Bogota, Medellin and growers in micro-garden and Environment. Cartagena. micro-irrigation technologies. Funding: Italy, City of Milan, [email protected] Funding: Colombia, Italy Funding: Belgium Spain www.fao.org/ag/agp/greenercities/