Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger Using Urban Agriculture as A Tool for Sustainable Livelihood

Abstract

In order to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and promote sustainable development through Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations Millennium Declaration was adopted in September 2000 at the largest ever gathering, committing countries both rich and poor to do all they can to eradicate poverty and hunger, promote human dignity and equality and achieve peace, democracy and environmental stability, achieve universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development. It is because of these and more especially goal one, to “eradicate extreme poverty and hunger”, that prompted this study. It focused on assessing the contribution of urban agriculture as a tool for sustainable livelihood in Kwale, Delta State. Emphases were laid on the characteristics of the urban farmers, major urban agricultural activities, its impact on household income and food security, and finally the challenges facing urban agriculture in the study area.  Twenty (20) urban farmers were randomly selected from each of the four zones that encompass Kwale giving a sample size of eighty (80) respondents used for the study. Information obtained were analysed using simple descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables, percentages and bar charts. Two hypotheses were postulated and tested in the course of this study using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rho). The findings from the study indicate that urban agriculture is an important source of supply in urban food system, income options for households, and creates full time employment. The challenges for urban farmer are land, inadequate capital, and high cost of labour. Since current employment situations in the urban areas do not generate adequate income for the poor urban population, it is therefore recommended that urban agriculture should be integrated into urban land use planning in the state as a source of urban income, employment and food security. Government as the principal land owner should liaise with individuals and group land owners to devise appropriate mechanisms to release undeveloped plots of land within and around the city for agricultural purposes. If some of these recommendations are properly addressed, urban agriculture would help to reduce urban poverty and achieve livelihood sustainability.