Effect of Changing Urban Farming Landscape on Financing Livelihoods and Food Security of Urban Farmers’ Households in Ghana

ILIRIA International Review, 2020, Vol. 10 (1) pages 260-300.

21 Pages Posted: 15 Sep 2020

See all articles by Isaiah Acquah

Isaiah Acquah

University of Education, Winneba

Joseph Ato Forson

University of Education, Winneba

Theresa Baah-Ennumh

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

Date Written: June 30, 2020

Abstract

High rate of concretization of urban areas presents a challenge to the sustainability of urban farms in Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), as farms are out-competed to built-up areas for residential and commercial purposes. A major result of this concretization is a growing loss of farmlands in the metropolis. Our study explores the effect of urban growth on livelihood financing and food security of urban farming households. This is an exploratory study based on purposive sampling and snowballing techniques to inquiry. This qualitative study uses interview guides (semi-structured and structured) to collect primary data from farmers in the Accra metropolis. We bolstered this approach with spatial imagery tool to map out changing farm sizes in the metropolis. We find participants displaying greater wakefulness of the community as a key factor of urban farming in relation to food security, income and employment. This was because of inadequate land use planning and support to urban farmers. Some of the significant challenges identified were limited space for farming, limited resources, continuous increase in buildings and inadequate education. Conscious efforts should be made by the assemblies at all levels to develop comprehensive land-use plans to guide urban land management. As part of housing policy, vertical development (storey building) of housing and office accommodation is encouraged rather than horizontal expansion of offices and residential accommodation, which could encourage further growth in buildings. Moreover, the organization of urban farmer associations is a prerequisite to the improvement of urban agriculture.

Keywords: Urban Farming; Sustainable Livelihoods; Sustainable Financing; Food Security; Ghana

JEL Classification: Q1, Q14, Q15, Q18

Suggested Citation

Acquah, Isaiah and Forson, Joseph Ato and Baah-Ennumh, Theresa, Effect of Changing Urban Farming Landscape on Financing Livelihoods and Food Security of Urban Farmers’ Households in Ghana (June 30, 2020). ILIRIA International Review, 2020, Vol. 10 (1) pages 260-300., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3643653 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3643653

Isaiah Acquah

University of Education, Winneba ( email )

P.O. Box 25
Winneba, Central Region +233
Ghana

Joseph Ato Forson (Contact Author)

University of Education, Winneba ( email )

P.O. Box 25
Winneba, Central Region +233
Ghana

HOME PAGE: http://www.uew.edu.gh

Theresa Baah-Ennumh

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana ( email )

Faculty of Law
Faculty of Law
Kumasi, AK Ashanti Region +233
Ghana

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