ANALYSIS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND ITS GROWTH IN OGBOMOSO TOWNSHIP, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The urban food production industry is an ever-growing informal sector which has not been considered by the government and decision makers as a viable urban livelihood option. The environmental condition of urban agriculture (UA) practice is worrisome by its waste management techniques which found to be lower than the acceptable safety limits. There is an urgent need to legalize urban agriculture through sustainable institutional arrangement that is responsive, participatory, transparent and accountable. The aim of this study was to analyze urban agricultural practice and its growth in Ogbomoso Township, Oyo State, Nigeria. Survey research design was employed in this research. Simple random sampling technique was employed for the selection of 22 urban farms and 145 households while accidental sampling technique was utilized for the selection of 251 urban farmers. Data from 251 (50%) sampled urban farmers revealed that 66.5% of the urban farmers did not have formal training on urban agricultural practice. It was also discovered from findings that vegetables, maize, potato, melon and cassava are the dominant crop practice while pig, poultry, goat and fish are the dominant livestock practice in the study area. Nearest neighbourhood analysis revealed that the 45 identified urban farms are randomly distributed in the study area with p-value of 0.22. Findings revealed that the various methods adopted to urban farm waste management are not environmental-friendly where 77.7% of the urban farmers did not have any air control measure and 47.4% of the sampled urban farmers engage in waste burning method followed by open dump method with 21.9% as a means to dung (feacal), carcasses and left over management. Based on findings, it was affirmed by 36.8% of the urban farmers that they will feel good to relocate to agricultural land use while 42.5% of the sampled households suggested that land use zoning is the best measure to solve the problems emanating from urban agriculture (UA). This study therefore concluded that because of the livelihood contribution in relation to employment opportunity, food security, promotion of urban sustainability, creation of profitable businesses among others; town planners and decision makers should integrate urban agriculture (UA) into urban setting. Government and private investors should tap into biogas generation from urban farm waste as this will serve as augmenting strategy to power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN). Urban farmers should convert urban farm waste to wealth (i.e through sellout of dung for composite manure) rather than the usual burning method.