Development of Urban Agriculture to Promote the Life Quality of Urbanites

Abstract

         Urbanization results in economic and industrial developments. This leads to the consumption of a large amount of energy and resources. Inappropriate change in land use is an important cause of soil, water and air quality deterioration, including health, economic and social problems. Improving the quality of urbanites can be done in many ways. Many countries have adopted urban agriculture strategies for increasing green space to degraded wastelands and empty spaces to be more useful. Urban agriculture comes in many forms in that community gardens, private gardens, urban orchards, easement gardens,  rooftop gardens with the production for household and community consumptions and trading. The limitations of urban agriculture expansion are land ownership, inappropriate environment, contamination of agricultural chemicals into the environment and contamination of environmental pollutants into agricultural products. Appropriate urban agricultural development includes: Utilizing vacant land or abandoned buildings for agriculture. Integrating urban agriculture with green infrastructure in urban development plans and developing urban food systems. Integration of agricultural knowledge, innovation and technology, environment, urban planning and law together should be considered for safe and sustainable use of urban areas.