Stimulating and developing sustainable urban local economies: The role of urban agriculture

Abstract

Whereas urban agriculture is a potential tool for urban local economic development (LED), there appears to be little empirical evidence that has examined how urban agriculture affects the urban local economy from a LED perspective. This research aims to to examine the role of urban agriculture in the urban local economy in a developing country, Ghana. Data for the research was obtained through focus group discussions and key informants interviews with urban agriculturalists and urban local authorities in two assemblies, respectively, in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The findings showed that, if properly supported, urban agriculture can improve the local economy because of its multiple benefits of employment, income, and improved livelihood and food security. This study contributed to expanding the international scholarship on LED from the perspective of using urban agriculture as an LED strategy by examining the case in Ghana.