Urban Farming

Urban Farming There are many internet references to urban farming both negative - cows eating on rubbish dumps in African cities - and positive ones . One of the more successful attempts has taken place in Havana Cuba . This has developed since the splitting up of the Soviet Union . Before that time Cuba used some 35 ,000 tones of herbicides and pesticides each year . Now a spokesman says that they can 't afford them any more . They also used some 1 million tons of chemical fertilizers . This figure is now about 90 ,000 tons

. - so organic horticulture and agriculture prevails . By 1999 using organic methods the production of potatoes for example have tripled . Group gardens were begun by the inhabitants of the city especially those living in tower blocks . At the same time large communist style agricultural units have been broken up into individually run small farms

Under the earlier system food production was state controlled . Now the city has farmer 's markets and these are actually encouraged by the government

As the economy has stabilized the country could afford to import pesticides etc and make these available to the urban farmers as well as those in the countryside , but , as government spokesman Juan Jose Leon said this year as quoted by Jason Mark in his article of April 2007 Everything we have gained , all the experience we have gained , we are not going to leave that behind

According to the web site City Farms half the world 's poor in developing countries live in cities . Estimates are that about 33 of world food production takes place in cities . The poor save money and eat better when they are able to grow their own food , whether just a few pots on a window sill or on allotments etc . Yet city land is valuable and local governments may be keen to sell off any plots to builders . There is a work of education to be done to convince them , and the public in general , that urban farming has true value Electronic Sources City Farms found at http /journeytoforever .org /cityfarm .html retrieved 24th September 2007 Mark , J , Urban Farming Thrives in Cuba found at http /www .peopleandplanet .net /doc .php ?id 3003 retrieved 24th September 2007...