ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with an important informal sector activity. Urban agriculture is important, especially since many urban residents in developing countries rely on town/city agriculture in one way or another. Food scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa is compounded by increased urbanization and proletarianization, which has removed a significant number of people from the traditional agrarian sector which feeds the population. Urbanization influences domestic food production and consumption depending on the region in question. In developed countries, increased urbanization does not necessarily lead to a decrease in the quantity of food produced. The introduction of Structural Adjustment Programmes in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa and the attendant labour redundancy, which this has produced, have compounded the precarious economic condition for many people, especially urban residents. Urban agriculture is a significant part of the informal sector of the economy of most sub-Saharan countries. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
