Tropentag, September 19 - 21, 2016 in Vienna, Austria "Solidarity in a competing world - fair use of resources"

Urban Farming in Southern Africa – Improved Food Safety and Income Options for Urban Disadvantaged Communities (UFiSAMo)

¹Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Germany
²Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Centre for Rural Development, Germany
³Frankenförder Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Germany
⁴University Eduard Mondlane, Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences, Mozambique
⁵Technical Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition, Mozambique
⁶University of the Western Cape, Department of Geography, Environmental Studies & Tourism, South Africa
⁷University of the Western Cape, Institute for Social Development, South Africa
⁸Abalimi Bezekhaya, South Africa
⁹Freie Universität Berlin, FAO Reference Centre for Veterinary Public Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Germany
¹⁰Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Germany
¹¹Frankenförder Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Germany

Abstract

The aims of this project on urban farming (UF) are to contribute to the improvement of urban food security, nutrition and food safety. To do this, we will investigate possible means to increase availability, consumption and marketing of diverse, safe and nutritious foods through improved production and marketing of crops and animal products in disadvantaged communities of Maputo, Mozambique and Cape Town, South Africa.
The expected outcomes for the main user groups are:
I. Policy stakeholders:
1. Sensitised for importance of UF for food security
2. Development of recommendations for the integration and improvement of UF in urban development
II. Universities:
1. Integrate UF in curricula and promote UF research (Research and Education Network)
III. Implementing agencies (NGOs, farmers' cooperatives, etc.)
1. Better assessment of risks and benefits of UA
2. Use of “best practices” for quality production (production, processing, marketing)
We will assist in improving the operational framework for UF through the project network, and will strengthen research on UF and the sustainable application of the project results from grass root to upper policy levels.
Objectives
Objectives 1:
To study food habits, consumer behaviour and current systems of UF, and analyse UF value chains in disadvantaged urban areas of Maputo and townships of Cape Town. Based on the results, explore value-adding options through improving and diversifying the UF systems.
Objectives 2:
To investigate the benefits and risks to human health and food safety of crop and animal UF.
Objective 3:
To extend the current agricultural research and education network of the partner universities to the area of UF for all Mozambican, South African and German project partners.
Objective 4: To assist the sustainable implementation of project results from grass root to upper policy level and enhance local capacity building.
Coordination and control
The project is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on a decision of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany through the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) (Duration: 2016-2019) and will be controlled and coordinated in network coordination, which interacts between all partners and to BLE. Yearly workshops in project areas serve as ongoing control of successful project management and specification of upcoming work- and research plan. The documentation of successful project phases is based on milestones.

Keywords: Crop cultivation, livestock farming, southern Africa, urban farming, value chains

Contact Address: Carsten Pötzsch, Frankenförder Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Potsdamer-Str. 18a, 14943 Luckenwalde, Germany, e-mail: carstenpotzsch.eu