1. Understanding Peri-Urban Agriculture
2. The Role of Land Use Policies
3. Creating Supportive Land Use Policies

Farming at the Fringe: Land Use Policies for Peri-Urban Agriculture

Peri-urban agriculture, the practice of cultivating food and livestock on the outskirts of cities, is a growing trend worldwide. This form of agriculture offers numerous benefits, including food security, job creation, and environmental sustainability. However, it also presents unique challenges, particularly in terms of land use policies. This article explores the role of land use policies in peri-urban agriculture, highlighting the need for supportive frameworks that promote sustainable and productive farming practices at the urban fringe.

Understanding Peri-Urban Agriculture

Peri-urban agriculture refers to farming practices that occur in the transitional zone or interface between urban and rural areas. These areas, often referred to as the 'urban fringe', are characterized by a mix of urban and rural land uses and a high degree of spatial and functional integration with the urban economy.

Peri-urban agriculture plays a crucial role in food security, particularly in developing countries where it provides a significant proportion of the fresh food consumed in urban areas. It also contributes to urban livelihoods, offering employment opportunities for urban and peri-urban residents. Furthermore, it plays a role in managing urban waste, as organic waste can be recycled into productive resources through composting and animal feeding.

Despite these benefits, peri-urban agriculture often exists in a policy grey area. It is frequently overlooked in urban planning and agricultural policies, leading to insecure land tenure, inadequate access to resources, and vulnerability to urban pressures such as land speculation and urban sprawl.

The Role of Land Use Policies

Land use policies play a critical role in shaping the development and sustainability of peri-urban agriculture. They determine the allocation of land for different uses, the conditions under which land can be used, and the rights and responsibilities of land users. In the context of peri-urban agriculture, land use policies can either support or hinder farming activities, depending on how they are formulated and implemented.

Supportive land use policies can help to secure land tenure for peri-urban farmers, protect agricultural land from urban encroachment, and facilitate access to resources such as water and organic waste. They can also promote sustainable farming practices, for example, by encouraging organic farming or restricting the use of harmful pesticides.

On the other hand, unsupportive land use policies can exacerbate the challenges faced by peri-urban farmers. For instance, policies that prioritize urban development over agriculture can lead to the loss of agricultural land and displacement of farmers. Similarly, policies that fail to recognize the rights of peri-urban farmers can result in insecure land tenure and limited access to resources.

Creating Supportive Land Use Policies

Creating supportive land use policies for peri-urban agriculture requires a multi-faceted approach. First, it involves recognizing the value of peri-urban agriculture and its contribution to urban food security, livelihoods, and sustainability. This recognition should be reflected in urban planning and agricultural policies, which should explicitly include provisions for peri-urban agriculture.

Second, it involves protecting agricultural land at the urban fringe from urban encroachment. This can be achieved through measures such as zoning regulations that designate certain areas for agriculture, and land banking schemes that reserve land for future agricultural use.

Third, it involves securing land tenure for peri-urban farmers. This can be done through legal reforms that recognize the rights of peri-urban farmers, and through mechanisms that provide farmers with secure and long-term access to land.

Finally, it involves promoting sustainable farming practices. This can be facilitated through regulations that encourage organic farming and restrict the use of harmful pesticides, and through support services that provide farmers with training and resources for sustainable farming.

In conclusion, land use policies play a crucial role in peri-urban agriculture. By creating supportive frameworks, policymakers can help to ensure that peri-urban agriculture contributes to food security, livelihoods, and sustainability in urban areas.