Proven benefits of urban agriculture

Benefits of urban agriculture:

-      higher productivity per unit of space

 

-      low capital per unit of production

 

-      low energy consumption

 

-      low marketing cost

 

-      freshness of the products. 

 

Efficiency: 

-      Smaller scale plots, greater diversity

 

-      Intensive horticulture practiced on small plots maks efficient use of limited water and land resources

 

-      It has been demonstrated that an area of six square metrs can produce all the vegetable needs for a family of four for a year

 

-      Horticultural species can provide up to 50 kg of fresh produce per square meter per year, depending upon the technology applied

 

-      Productivity can be as much as 15 times the output per hectare of rural agriculture

 

-      Provides quick response to emergency food needs

 

-      Efficiency through productive use of under-utilized resources, such as: 

 

o  vacant land 

 

o  treated wastewater

 

o  recycled waste

 

o  unemployed labor. 

 

-      Greater degree of crop diversity = year-round production = year-round employment and income