The Growth of Urban Agriculture

The Growth of Urban Agriculture

Guiding Principles

Guiding principles:1. Organic Methods (do not contaminate

environment)

2. Rational use of local resources

3. Direct marketing of produce to consumers

Reasons for the reemergence of Urban Agriculture

World trend towards more natural agriculture after Earth Summit in Rio (1992)

Economic difficulties in the 1990s Low quality of vegetables available on the

market Shortages of traditional spices and seasonings The under-exploited potential of city

Urban Agriculture

Diversity of production and participation: different models for different geography and intended market

Urban agriculture must be low input, non-toxic, water efficient and soil fertility must be carefully managed

In Cuba Urban Agriculture receives special attention from the highest levels of the Ministry of Agriculture

Farming in the suburbs is considered urban agriculture

Employment

• Simplicity of production, Increased in yields and improving technology have created 160,000 jobs

• Employ people from varying backgrounds (workers, housewives, professionals and retired people)

• Changes driven by opportunity for increased income• State support for land, credit, services and inputs

Urban Farm Enterprise

Territorial units are grouped into municipal administrative Urban Farm Enterprise

Determines appropriateness of different technologies for its subunits

Urban Farm Enterprise:– Coordinates urban agricultural activities in the municipality– Dispenses extension and technical assistance– Links farmers and gardeners– Links education, research and service centers

Premises of Urban Agriculture

Urban centers have highest demand for perishable foods stuffs. Perishable foodstuffs should be produced near the consumer.

Vegetables, fruits, spices and intensive animal production require a large labor force. 75% of Cuban population is urban and many are from rural areas and have empirical knowledge about agriculture.

The growth and spread of cities creates empty spaces in peripheral areas. Make these spaces productive instead of dangerous.

Basic Principles

Uniform distribution throughout the country Logical correspondence between production and number of dwellers of each

region Crop-animal integration with maximum use of synergies to boost the production

of each Intensive use of organic matter to boost and preserve soil fertility and biological

pest controls Use of each patch of available land to produce food, guaranteeing intensive

production and high yields of crops and animals Multidisciplinary integration and the intense application of science and technology A fresh supply of good quality products, offered directly to the population,

guaranteeing a balanced production of not less than 300g of vegetables daily per capita and an adequate variety of animal protein sources

Maximum use of the potential to produce food, such as labor force available and the recycling to wastes and by-products for plant and animal nutrition

Organization of Urban Agriculture in Cuba

National Urban Agriculture Group – Scientific and government institutions and urban

farmers– Regulates and directs Urban Agriculture through

provincial and municipal groups– Local groups organize, develop, and regulate urban

agriculture in their zone and coordinate entities of production, processing and distribution within their boundaries

Popular Council and Agriculture

Within each council one delegate coordinates their urban agriculture method

Municipal Urban farms carry out the coordination of the popular councils

There are 26 administrative sub-programs within urban agriculture which vary from soil management and conservation to oilseed crops, to fruit trees and marketing.

Vegetables and Fresh Herbs

First and most developed and successful initiative• Organoponics:

-located in areas with infertile soils and production constraints-container is filled with mixture of organic matter, substrate and soil

• Intensive Vegetable Gardening:-practiced on good soil. -Organic matter is applied directly during preparation for planting

Small Plots, Patios and Popular Gardens:

-makes significant contribution to food supplies

-individual areas cultivated are very small

-currently 104,087 parcels covering 3,595 hectares in production

-produce more than organoponics and intensive gardens combined

Self-Provisioning at Factories, offices and Businesses– Helps meet cafeteria’s demand for food without

putting strain on the neighborhood– More than 300 farms in Havana– Make up 5,368 hectares– Grow vegetables, root crops, grains, fruits, meat,

milk, fish, eggs and herbs

Suburban Farms:– Typically between 2 and 15 hectares– Infrastructure, recycling of waste products, crops

grown, animals raised and marketing of products are influenced by surrounding population

– Intensive cultivation, efficient use of water and maximum reduction of agro toxins

– In city of Havana, suburban farms (2,000 small private and 285 state farms) cover 7,718 hectares and are highly productive

Shaded cultivation:

-Make shade houses with mesh tents to grow crops and germinate seedlings (step towards year-round cultivation)

Apartment-style production:-diverse soil substrates and nutrient solutions

-mini planting beds, small containers, roof, balconies and minimal use of soil.

Results of Vegetable Sub-Program

1999 production in organoponics and intensive gardens provided 215 g/day per person of fresh horticultural crops

This program was especially successful in specific provinces ranging from 88g/day per person to 399g/day per person

Other Projects

Medicinal Plants and Dried Herbs– Portions sold to Ministry of Public Health– An intensive educational and promotional campaign has

promoted knowledge of preservation processing and home use

– Grown in organoponic and intensive vegetable gardens– Recent introduction

Small Scale “Popular” Rice Production– Production Growing in all provinces– Generated yields above 5 tons/ha which is higher yields than

at state rice farms

Fruit Trees– New program, but not new practice– Mangoes, avocados and citrus have high productive potential– Plans for nurseries and grafting to accelerate urban fruit

production

Ornamental plants and flowers– Least advanced subprogram– Only a few places dedicated to flower production– Initial goal to have 5 dozen flowers per capita per year

Poultry

Specialize in ducks and hens

Most advanced of the animal production programs

Chicken breed created by crossing Rhode Island Red and a local breed: for resistance to environmental adversity and high productivity of meat and eggs

Chickens produce 200 eggs annually

Ducks have the fastest growth rate, are more resistant to disease and less sensitive to environmental stress and food quality

Swine

• Focused in suburban areas• Can find or produce own feed, but must buy vitamin and mineral

supplements.• Prospective producers must sign agreements with swine production

groups and the territorial Technical Service for Swine Production• Purchase piglets at a reduced price when pigs reach a certain

weight a purchase contract is reached with the government and the rest is sold at higher prices

conditions defined by Institute of Veterinary Medicine: • adequate food supply, sufficient water supply for drinking and

hygiene, confinement, a residue pit or biogas digester, a cement or tile floor and a roof for protection from weather

Organic Matter

Systematically apply organic matter by using local alternative and to systematically develop local programs to assure adequate supplies of organic matter

Coordinated by national Urban Agriculture Group Popular councils receive assistance from technical operations

group made up of specialist and farmers from a variety of organizations and institutions

Territorial Organic Fertilizers Centers organize and advise activities in their territories

Use animal manures and sugarcane filter cake mud (cachaza) Processing of urban agricultural wastes to turn them into organic

fertilizers is still insufficient

Seeds

Regional self sufficiency of seed production and distribution

Keep the supply of seeds flowing All urban farms are self sufficient in easily

produced seeds (cucumber, cow peas)

Animal Feed

Created to supplement the use of household scraps and crop residue with production of feed on urban farms

Feeds consist of grains, tubers, roots and sugarcane

Most units are not self sufficient in terms of animal feed

Science Technology and Training

Focus on practical on-site training Extensions system the depends on the

participation of extension agents, research center, experienced farmers and gardeners and other individuals and institutions related to urban agriculture

Extension is tailored to local conditions and needs

Other sub-programs

Very recent still in formative stages

Key Issues in the Development of Urban Agriculture in Cuba

Conservation and management of soil fertility– Productive potential of land is directly related with soil

fertility– Erosion is a large problem in Cuba due to heavy rain– Periodic application of organic matter to growing areas is

indispensable to the replacement and recycling of nutrients

– Appropriate crop rotations and pest management systems adapted to local conditions have been essential

Integrated disease and pest management

Characterized by low pest and disease incidence because of small plot sizes and generous application of organic material to soil

Biological pesticides– BT and Beauveria bassiana are in common use against pests– Tricoderma used to control soil diseases– The development of new technology and it’s artisanal and semi-industrial production

are critical for urban agriculture Cultural techniques:

– Site selection– Planting dates– Crop varieties– Elimination or alternate hosts of pests and diseases– Adequate soil management– Crop rotations– Eliminations of infected plants through thinning and pruning

Crop-Livestock Integration

Organic farming is most productive when crop and livestock production are linked and integrated

Over half of urban farms have linkages between crop and livestock production

Urban Agriculture and Sustainability

To achieve sustainability must be rationalized and integrated Have developed sustainability indicators:

– Amounts of organic matter collected, processed and applied– Used of soil conservation methods to prevent erosion– Degree to which seed and starter-animals are produced locally– Degree to which varieties are breeds are adapted to local conditions– degree of crop-livestock integration– Local water availability and soil moisture– Efficiency of water use– Amount of food produced per capita– Use of integrated pest and disease management systems– net profitability of production– Degree of participation of farmers in training courses and extension

activities

Conclusion

Cuba has clearly demonstrated the food producing potential of cities

Urban agriculture is an important source of food for Cubans

Decisive effort by farmers and support of the government

High level of organization will make other ambitious plans possible

Expects that urban agriculture will satisfy a high percentage of Cuban food needs