Dilemmas of Urban Development: A Survey of Addis Ababa City Residents’ Opinion on Urban Agriculture

Abstract

Urbanization has historically pushed all forms of agriculture out of the city into the rural areas, considering it is too dirty for the wealth and glory of the city. This study investigated the status of the urban agricultural practices in Addis Ababa. Despite the significant role, urban agriculture could play in household food security, income and job opportunity and general poverty reduction; this activity is facing challenges due to rapid urbanization that is bringing highly competing land use demands. Urban agriculture, however, is a hazard in the development of Addis Ababa City. Urban agriculture contradicts the policy of modernizing African cities. It is associated with the theory of peasant cities thus painting a picture of permanent poverty in the Third World Countries’ cities. This descriptive survey research utilized a sample of thirty-one respondents. The general objective was to identify the major challenges and opportunities of urban agriculture in urban development. There is no clearly stated urban agriculture policy in Ethiopia. This study portrays the contradictions between urban agriculture development, competition for land and the need for developing modern cities in Africa. Critical theory alleges that urban agriculture is an outcome of a class struggle. It is a conflict brought about by the structuring of Ethiopian society. Urban agriculture activities are a direct result of poverty from shortage of income and rampant unemployment in the urban centers. Urban legislation like urban by-laws if clearly designed is useful for monitoring and controlling this activity.

Keywords: urban agriculture, development plans and policies, modernization theory, challenges and opportunities