IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i14p5774-d386067.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What Constraints the Expansion of Urban Agriculture in Benin?

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5774/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5774/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Courtney Gallaher & John Kerr & Mary Njenga & Nancy Karanja & Antoinette WinklerPrins, 2013. "Urban agriculture, social capital, and food security in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 30(3), pages 389-404, September.
    2. Chazovachii Bernard & Mutami Cephas & Bowora John, 2013. "Community gardens and food security in rural livelihood development: the case of Entrepreneurial and market gardens in Mberengwa, Zimbabwe," Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, CyberLeninka;Редакция журнала Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, vol. 13(1), pages 8-17.
    3. Martin Ravallion & Shaohua Chen & Prem Sangraula, 2007. "New Evidence on the Urbanization of Global Poverty," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 33(4), pages 667-701, December.
    4. Natália Sant’Anna Medeiros & Davi Lopes Carmo & Sílvia Eloíza Priore & Ricardo Henrique Silva Santos & Carina Aparecida Pinto, 2019. "Food security and edible plant cultivation in the urban gardens of socially disadvantaged families in the municipality of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1171-1184, June.
    5. Warren, Emily & Hawkesworth, Sophie & Knai, Cécile, 2015. "Investigating the association between urban agriculture and food security, dietary diversity, and nutritional status: A systematic literature review," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 54-66.
    6. Eileen Bogweh Nchanji, 2017. "Sustainable Urban Agriculture in Ghana: What Governance System Works?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-18, November.
    7. David W. Olivier & Lindy Heinecken, 2017. "The personal and social benefits of urban agriculture experienced by cultivators on the Cape Flats," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(2), pages 168-181, March.
    8. Martina Artmann & Katharina Sartison, 2018. "The Role of Urban Agriculture as a Nature-Based Solution: A Review for Developing a Systemic Assessment Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-32, June.
    9. Martin Dyer & Richard Mills & Beatrice Conradie & Jenifer Piesse, 2015. "Harvest of Hope: The Contribution of Peri-Urban Agriculture in South African Townships," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(4), pages 73-86, November.
    10. Alessandro Liberati & Douglas G Altman & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Cynthia Mulrow & Peter C Gøtzsche & John P A Ioannidis & Mike Clarke & P J Devereaux & Jos Kleijnen & David Moher, 2009. "The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-28, July.
    11. Andreas Wesener & Runrid Fox-Kämper & Martin Sondermann & Daniel Münderlein, 2020. "Placemaking in Action: Factors That Support or Obstruct the Development of Urban Community Gardens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-29, January.
    12. Poulsen, Melissa N. & McNab, Philip R. & Clayton, Megan L. & Neff, Roni A., 2015. "A systematic review of urban agriculture and food security impacts in low-income countries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 131-146.
    13. Michelle Bonatti & Larissa H. I. R. Homem & Frieder Graef & Hadijah Ally Mbwana & Constance Rybak & Marcos Lana & Stefan Sieber, 2017. "Social organization, constraints and opportunities for kitchen garden implementation: ScalA and ScalA-FS assessment tools in Morogoro and Dodoma, Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(6), pages 1299-1308, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Qureshi, Salman & Tarashkar, Mahsa & Matloobi, Mansour & Wang, Zhifang & Rahimi, Akbar, 2022. "Understanding the dynamics of urban horticulture by socially-oriented practices and populace perception: Seeking future outlook through a comprehensive review," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    2. Davies, Julia & Hannah, Corrie & Guido, Zack & Zimmer, Andrew & McCann, Laura & Battersby, Jane & Evans, Tom, 2021. "Barriers to urban agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    3. Poulsen, Melissa N. & McNab, Philip R. & Clayton, Megan L. & Neff, Roni A., 2015. "A systematic review of urban agriculture and food security impacts in low-income countries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 131-146.
    4. Saeed Nosratabadi & Nesrine Khazami & Marwa Ben Abdallah & Zoltan Lackner & Shahab S. Band & Amir Mosavi & Csaba Mako, 2020. "Social Capital Contributions to Food Security: A Comprehensive Literature Review," Papers 2012.03606, arXiv.org.
    5. Ivica Petrikova & Melvine Anyango Otieno & Gertrude Were & Mahmoud Eltholth & Ana Rodriguez Mateos & Seeromanie Harding & Victoria Moran & Odipo Osano & Jennifer Cole, 2024. "Peri-urban agriculture and household food and nutrition security around Eldoret, Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 16(5), pages 1235-1263, October.
    6. Alessandro Concari & Gerjo Kok & Pim Martens, 2020. "A Systematic Literature Review of Concepts and Factors Related to Pro-Environmental Consumer Behaviour in Relation to Waste Management Through an Interdisciplinary Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-50, May.
    7. David W. Olivier, 2018. "A Cropping System for Resource-Constrained Urban Agriculture: Lessons from Cape Town," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Gore, Christopher D., 2018. "How African cities lead: Urban policy innovation and agriculture in Kampala and Nairobi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 169-180.
    9. Appau, Samuelson & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2021. "The long-term impact of the Vietnam War on agricultural productivity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    10. Siemen van Berkum, 2023. "How Urban Growth in the Global South Affects Agricultural Dynamics and Food Systems Outcomes in Rural Areas: A Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, February.
    11. Rosmah Murdad & Mardiana Muhiddin & Wan Hurani Osman & Nor Elliza Tajidin & Zainol Haida & Azwan Awang & Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh, 2022. "Ensuring Urban Food Security in Malaysia during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Is Urban Farming the Answer? A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, March.
    12. Navjot Sangwan & Luca Tasciotti, 2023. "Losing the Plot: The Impact of Urban Agriculture on Household Food Expenditure and Dietary Diversity in Sub-Saharan African Countries," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    13. Juan E. Núñez-Ríos & Norman Aguilar-Gallegos & Jacqueline Y. Sánchez-García & Pedro Pablo Cardoso-Castro, 2020. "Systemic Design for Food Self-Sufficiency in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-25, September.
    14. Wood, Benjamin Douglas Kuflick & Vasquez, Maria, 2018. "Microplots and food security: Encouraging replication studies of policy relevant research," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 12, pages 1-12.
    15. Mcdougall, Robert & Rader, Romina & Kristiansen, Paul, 2020. "Urban agriculture could provide 15% of food supply to Sydney, Australia, under expanded land use scenarios," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    16. Manrrubio Muñoz-Rodríguez & Claudia Fernández-González & Norman Aguilar-Gallegos & María Virginia González-Santiago, 2020. "The Primacy of Politics in Public Food Security Policies: The Case of Home Gardens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    17. Hayford Mensah Ayerakwa & Fred Mawunyo Dzanku & Daniel Bruce Sarpong, 2020. "The geography of agriculture participation and food security in a small and a medium-sized city in Ghana," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-21, December.
    18. 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.
    19. David W. Olivier & Lindy Heinecken, 2017. "Beyond food security: women’s experiences of urban agriculture in Cape Town," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(3), pages 743-755, September.
    20. Adams, Faizal & Ullah, Ayat & Quaye, Jonathan & Mensah, Amos, 2024. "Understanding residents’ choice of urban farming systems in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana: Land use policy implications," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5774-:d:386067. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.