Management of natural resources by the urban and peri-urban horticultural sector: The experience of an FAO-assisted project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Urban and peri-urban agriculture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is part of the national agriculture development strategy. Through a twelve year project to support the development of urban and peri-urban horticulture in five cities in the country, important steps have been taken for the sustainable development of the sector and its formal integration into the urban development planning process. To address the different challenges this article describes the 5-S approach adopted by the project, in line with FAO‘s Growing Greener Cities policy guidelines, which relate to: (i) Securing fertile land by solving land tenure issues, and securing the availability and access to water of good quality to allow for irrigation and intensified year-round production activities, (ii) Securing the quality and safety of produce while protecting the environment, (iii) Securing the empowerment and capacity of different partners and stakeholders of the value chain (iv) Securing market outlets and stimulating demand, and (v) Securing political commitment and institutional support to ensure the consolidation and future expansion of urban and periurban horticulture in line with the urbanisation process5. The article looks at the activities of the project focussing specifically on the management of natural renewable resources and illustrates how their optimal uses can deliver not only enhanced food security but also significant environmental benefits.