Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Land tenure and ownership is sometime restricted, any investment in time and
resources in community composting within urban areas is risky, the municipalities
and local governments should ease land access to NGOs, Cooperatives and Com-
mon Initiative Groups (CIP) promoting composting.
In sub-Saharan Africa, there is no policy to separate household wastes at the
origin and in the different waste dumps, all kind of waste are collected, including
organic waste, metal, glass, hospital waste, and liquid waste. Compost made from
organic waste originated from these dumps will be highly contaminated are will
expose the workers and consumers health.
Establishment of compost quality that meets the international standards is re-
quired, and the government and local authorities should take suitable laws for waste
segregation at the origin, which would improve the quality of the compost to be
produced.
13.6
Conclusion
A holistic approach of soil fertility recommended for Sub Saharan African soils
is based on a sustainable management which integrated biological, chemical and
socio-economic considerations (Swift and Woomer
1994
; Bationo et al.
2004
).
Land scarcity and soil fertility decline are major obstacles to the intensification of
urban agriculture consequent to the increase demand for food supply. With regard
to the cost and adverse effects that the agrochemicals have to the environment and
the public health, and considering the quantity of organic waste that is produced
daily, composting represents a viable option. Composting has therefore to be careful
monitored in other to ward off any sanitary risks in a confined environment and to
find a suitable place in the market. Municipal managers and all involved stakehold-
ers in urban planning have to evaluate composting programs within an integrated
municipal waste management system.
References
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Amlinger FF, Peyr SS, Cuhls CC (2008) Green house gas emissions from composting and me-
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Armar-Klemesu M (2001) Urban agriculture and food security nutrition and health. Thematic
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agenda. DSE, Fefdafing
Bationo A, Kimetu J, Ikerra S, Kimani S, Mugendi D, Odendo M, Silver M, Swift MJ, Sanginga
N (2004) The African network for soil biology and fertility: new challenges and opportunities.
In: Bationo A (ed) Managing nutrient cycles to sustain soil fertility in sub-Saharan Africa.
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