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What Constraints the Expansion of Urban Agriculture in Benin?

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  • Mawuna Donald Houessou

    (Athena Institute/Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Laboratoire d’Etude sur la Pauvreté et la Performance de l’Agriculture (LEPPA), Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 03 BP 2819 R.P. Cotonou, Benin
    Centre d’Actions pour l’Environnement et le Développement Durable, BP 660 Abomey-Calavi, Benin)

  • Mirte van de Louw

    (Athena Institute/Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Ben G. J. S. Sonneveld

    (Athena Institute/Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Amsterdam Centre for World Food Studies, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Propelled by rapid urbanization, city administrations in low- and middle-income countries face a raft of challenges to secure food and nutrition for its poor urban dwellers. Urban agriculture (UA) seems a viable intervention to address urban food insecurity, however, experience has shown that urban gardens do not expand at the expected rate. Tackling this issue requires a deeper understanding of the main constraints that block UA expansion. Benin is not an exception; the country witnesses a breathtaking growth of its main cities that is in synchronization with a mounting food insecurity. Our research aims, therefore, to identify the main constraints for the expansion of UA in Benin, and adopt a three-pronged approach combined with a systematic literature review, a survey held among experienced urban gardeners, and in-depth interviews with stakeholders. Altogether, the synthesis shows a predominance of five main constraints: lack of land and tenure insecurity, insufficient government support, restricted market access, limited access to productive factors, and inequality issues. Specifically, while the review showed that most barriers are linked and could be tackled together, the survey indicated a political unwillingness which in our in-depth interviews is explained by the unperceived benefits of investing in UA and the lack of enforcement of urban development plans. We suggest that Beninese authorities and academics move in synchronization where the former coordinates the planning of urban gardens and the latter provides evidence to trigger public and private investments in UA. The findings could be the basis for further research on UA in West Africa and the wider continent.

Suggested Citation

  • Mawuna Donald Houessou & Mirte van de Louw & Ben G. J. S. Sonneveld, 2020. "What Constraints the Expansion of Urban Agriculture in Benin?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5774-:d:386067
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martina Artmann & Kathrin Specht & Jan Vávra & Marius Rommel, 2021. "Introduction to the Special Issue “A Systemic Perspective on Urban Food Supply: Assessing Different Types of Urban Agriculture”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Emmanuel O. Benjamin & Oreoluwa Ola & Gertrud R. Buchenrieder, 2022. "Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Chukwudi Charles Olumba & Cynthia Nneka Olumba & Jonathan Okechukwu Alimba, 2021. "Constraints to urban agriculture in southeast Nigeria," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona & Geetha Mohan & Kensuke Fukushi, 2021. "Promoting Urban Agriculture and Its Opportunities and Challenges—A Global Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    5. Evans Brako Ntiamoah & Dongmei Li & Bismark Ameyaw & Daniel Bruce Sarpong & Martinson Twumasi Ankrah & Edmond Yeboah Nyamah, 2022. "A data‐driven approach to mitigating food insecurity and achieving zero hunger: A case study of West African countries," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(2), pages 157-178, May.
    6. B. G. J. S. Sonneveld & M. D. Houessou & G. J. M. van den Boom & A. Aoudji, 2021. "Where Do I Allocate My Urban Allotment Gardens? Development of a Site Selection Tool for Three Cities in Benin," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-22, March.

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