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Full Length Research
Paper
Reuse of wastewater in
urban farming and
urban planning implications
in Katsina metropolis, Nigeria
Mohammed Murtala Ruma* and Abdullahi Usman Sheikh
*Department of Geography, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P. M. B.
2218 Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
mmruma@gmail.com.
Tel: 080-36095024.
Accepted 8 December, 2009 |
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Studies on urban farming in Sub-Saharan African cities
reveal the existence of literatures in Eastern, Southern and
Central African cities. A few have focused on West Africa.
In Nigeria, there is a paucity of information on reuse of
waste water in urban farming. The purpose of this paper is
to examine the status of wastewater reuse in urban farming
in Katsina, an important urban area in the semi arid region
of Nigeria. A total of 120 households were selected and
interviewed out of the total number of 250 that officially
registered with the Katsina Urban Planning Authority. It was
found out that the reuse of wastewater in urban farming in
the area is an occupation that is not only practiced as a
fulltime and sole income earner for many households, but an
activity that the town cannot do without. Being a city
located within a semi-arid setting, relying on rainfed for
successful promotion of urban farming is certainly a risky
enterprise and hence the practice virtually has no
substitute. Unfortunately urban planning process has not
officially recognised and given attention to this important
activity in the town. Appropriate recommendation on how to
promote the activity and get it integrated into planning
processes in the area have been given.
Key
words:
Urban, peri-urban, agriculture, farming, semi-arid, Nigeria. |
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