Urban agriculture in metropolitan Lagos: An inventory of potential land and water resources
Keywords:
Food security, urban agriculture, urban planning, ecological footprint, ecological city (eco-city).Abstract
The research examines how urban agriculture as an individual household micro level strategy can directly influence
the financial empowerment of urban poor within the Lagos metropolis, positively. Using secondary data collected
from government agencies (satellite image, hydrology map, statistical data etc) and primary data collected from field
observation and reconnaissance survey; the paper takes inventory of potential land and water resources that can
contribute to urban agriculture within Lagos metropolis The research finds out that Lagos metropolis requires 18
times its present size (3,577 km2) to be able to feed her people on sustainable basis. It identifies 4,293 and 28,890 ha
of potential land and water resources under the jurisdiction of Federal, State and private ownership, respectively. The
paper recommends urban agriculture land use policies that will avoid clash between the interests of farmers and long
term government land use goals. It concludes that such well articulated goals need to bear in mind the environmental
impact of urban agriculture on the cityscape as well as its management on a sustainable basis such as the choice of
crops and ideal number of farmers needed for land and water resources in the State.
