Perspectives of the impact of urbanisation on urban agriculture landuse in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Abstract

Urban expansion and development have caused potential agriculture land to decrease at an alarming rate. Studies conducted around the world exposes the dangers of losing urban agricultural lands to infrastructural development. The conversion of arable lands to infrastructural development causes serious ramifications for long-term agricultural sustainability in urban areas like the City of Johannesburg such as urban food security, especially for the low economic income group. It is in view of this that this study was undertaken to understand the drivers of the City of Johannesburg's urban growth and its impact on urban agriculture land use. The study builds on a previous research by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in the Gauteng province which revealed that in addition to high urbanisation rates in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), it also has high agricultural potential land. To this extent, about 28.7% of the land was conducive for optimum agricultural land use at that time of the study, 2002. However, given the accelerated urbanisation trends in CoJ, several pieces of land are losing their natural functions, including land parcel suitable for food production. Given the multidimensional nature of the research aim and objectives, this study employed a mixed-method research design. To effectively achieve the set aim and objectives of the study, primary data was collected using structured questionnaires, interviews, and Landsat Satellite images. The aim of the study is positioned within a literature frame of reference and several thematic considerations that reflects on the positive and negative effects of urbanisation and urban growth in the world, South Africa, and the City of Johannesburg in particular.