Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book illustrates and explains the vital role played by the middlemen, who are commonly believed to exploit the farmer and pocket too much of the sales proceeds. It shows that much of their income is fully earned because of the risks and uncertainties which the small-scale traders and transporters have to undertake. The book outlines the variety of approaches that can provide rich material for researchers and will hopefully stimulate additional research on urban and peri-urban farming on related subjects. It argues that participatory development of urban and peri-urban farming can be used even for reducing health hazards, by enabling ‘proper integration between central planning of wastewater treatment and its use by private farmers’. The book demonstrates that modern remote sensing techniques hold great promise in helping field studies and land use improvement in Africa.