An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe

Peri-urban areas are often caught up in the pressure for land as cities expand due too rapid urbanization. The growth of cities in developing countries is also accompanied by waste management challenges and declining food security. This combination of factors has resulted in the expansion of urban a...

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Main Authors: Mhindu, R.L., Wuta, M., Ngorima, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Midlands State University 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1830
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author Mhindu, R.L.
Wuta, M.
Ngorima, E.
author_facet Mhindu, R.L.
Wuta, M.
Ngorima, E.
author_sort Mhindu, R.L.
collection DSpace
description Peri-urban areas are often caught up in the pressure for land as cities expand due too rapid urbanization. The growth of cities in developing countries is also accompanied by waste management challenges and declining food security. This combination of factors has resulted in the expansion of urban and peri-urban agriculture and also creates opportunities for recycling household and yard waste. We studied the characteristics and agricultural practices in peri-urban areas of Harare through surveys conducted during the year 2000. Key informant interviews were conducted and questionnaires administered to peri-urban households in order to investigate predominant agricultural practices, waste disposal strategies and the potential for waste reuse to beneficiate crop production in peri-urban areas. We noted that peri-urban households earn low incomes through agriculture, formal employment and informal trade activities. Households in peri-urban areas use refuse pits for waste disposal and periodically use decomposed refuse as a fertility amendment. Access to livestock manure is limited and farmers use a combination of refuse, inorganic fertilisers and manure to improve yields. We concluded that there is potential for improved recycling of wastes though composting so as to mitigate the shortage of fertility amendments. Opportunities also exist for increasing compost production by linking peri-urban and urban areas so that waste generated in urban areas may be transported and composted in peri-urban areas.
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spelling ir-11408-18302022-06-27T13:49:06Z An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe Mhindu, R.L. Wuta, M. Ngorima, E. Waste, Peri-Urban, Refuse, Income Sources Peri-urban areas are often caught up in the pressure for land as cities expand due too rapid urbanization. The growth of cities in developing countries is also accompanied by waste management challenges and declining food security. This combination of factors has resulted in the expansion of urban and peri-urban agriculture and also creates opportunities for recycling household and yard waste. We studied the characteristics and agricultural practices in peri-urban areas of Harare through surveys conducted during the year 2000. Key informant interviews were conducted and questionnaires administered to peri-urban households in order to investigate predominant agricultural practices, waste disposal strategies and the potential for waste reuse to beneficiate crop production in peri-urban areas. We noted that peri-urban households earn low incomes through agriculture, formal employment and informal trade activities. Households in peri-urban areas use refuse pits for waste disposal and periodically use decomposed refuse as a fertility amendment. Access to livestock manure is limited and farmers use a combination of refuse, inorganic fertilisers and manure to improve yields. We concluded that there is potential for improved recycling of wastes though composting so as to mitigate the shortage of fertility amendments. Opportunities also exist for increasing compost production by linking peri-urban and urban areas so that waste generated in urban areas may be transported and composted in peri-urban areas. 2016-10-07T08:56:28Z 2016-10-07T08:56:28Z 2015 Article 1815-9036 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1830 en The Dyke;Vol. 9, No. 1; p. 113-133 open Midlands State University
spellingShingle Waste, Peri-Urban, Refuse, Income Sources
Mhindu, R.L.
Wuta, M.
Ngorima, E.
An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe
title An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe
title_full An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe
title_fullStr An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe
title_short An investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe
title_sort investigation of predominant agricultural and waste reuse practices in selected peri-urban areas of harare, zimbabwe
topic Waste, Peri-Urban, Refuse, Income Sources
url http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1830
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