adminGiven that Zimbabwe is experiencing some economic hardships due to the illegal economic sanctions imposed by Britain and its allies, it is pleasing to note that urban farmers have taken the initiative to tackle these challenges.
With the onset of the rains, thousands of urban dwellers and their families are now engaged in peri- urban agriculture. In Harare, it is known that there are some council officials who are fiercely opposed to the farming activities who often deploy municipal staff to slash a thriving maize crop.
Council officials should not keep quiet during planting time and only to resurface to take action when the maize has reached tasselling stage.
It is in this context that we commend the timely warning by Harare City Council that those who farm in undesignated areas risk having their maize slashed. The council has urged residents who wish to engage in peri-urban farming to approach its offices and be shown the designated areas.
The municipality says it has set aside land specifically for urban agriculture by legalising some of the small plots of maize and vegetables that have nearly become a permanent feature on the city’s landscape. City
council bylaws make it illegal for anyone to grow crops on open spaces. Planting crops near stream banks and outside the boundaries of residential properties is also illegal.
In Harare, some would-be urban farmers have argued that once they apply for urban plots it takes ages to have responses from the authorities hence they have no choice but to cultivate anywhere.
We therefore urge the authorities in Harare, especially those tasked with that job, to move fast once people apply for plots for urban farming.
Harare has large tracts of open land specifically set aside for cultivation. Could it be that there is no proper planning that there are delays to allocate land to those who need it?
If this is done properly, haphazard self-allocation of pieces of land in the city by residents will be a thing of the past.
The popularity of urban agriculture stems from the fact that it requires little investment in terms of tillage, fertilisers and seed.
It provides directly the much needed supplementary food or even cash to families. Households also save money by producing their own food rather than buying. Only a few years ago, town planners in southern Africa met in Harare to brainstorm on how our region could encourage urban agriculture. The latter is an indication of how stakeholders appreciate the value of urban agriculture.
However, haphazard urban farming has negatively impacted on the environment and, in some instances, affected protected conservancies, forests and methods.
As we have pointed out, the practice of urban agriculture is not illegal. It only becomes illegal when it is not authorised, as well as when it is carried along stream banks and protected wetlands.
Urban agriculture, as part of a poverty reduction strategy, needs to be regulated and areas where it should take place should be well defined according to boundaries.
Urban farmers need proper education about environmentally friendly and safe farming techniques. As it is, urban farmers have little incentive to take responsibility for the long-term health of the land they cultivate.
Urban farming programmes should strive to inform the farmers about the dangers of misusing chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Almost 90 percent of Harare farmers are said to use chemical fertilisers and nearly a third of cultivation takes place near streams, swamps or vleis, leading to water pollution through run-off and leaching.
According to the Environmental Management Regulations, it is an offence to operate on land within 30 metres of naturally defined banks or highest flood level of a stream or wetland without a permit from the responsible authority.
Culprits face prosecution and heavy fines. We have pointed out time and again that an awareness campaign is needed on urban agriculture if we are to protect our environment.
Some residents also need to be educated why sometimes the city takes drastic measures to slash their maize. They would want to know the reasons.
We all recognise the role urban farming plays in providing food to families and, as such, it should be promoted and not discouraged for as long as it is conducted in a manner that does not impact negatively on the environment.
Online Reporter