Rising numbers of urban inhabitants seeking jobs, housing and waste disposal have a clear interest in the expansion of cities into near-urban areas. The problems which face Lily and others living on the city's edge are outside the mandate of existing agricultural services in Ghana, and are difficult for urban planners to deal with. Not enough is known about the problems and opportunities these people face. To help improve the basis upon which their needs can be identified and addressed, the DFID Natural Resources Systems Programme is supporting a programme of projects in collaboration with the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, The projects are studying the effects of urban expansion and the links between the city and its surrounding areas, using a systematic approach to define, characterise and better understand this complex environment. Farming is intensifying Agriculture on the edges of Kumasi is shifting away from staple crop production towards intensive horticulture, poultry and dairying, in response to demand for fresh produce from city dwellers.
Some farmers have sufficient land, access to water and the know-how to intensify production.
Landlords are reluctant to grant long term tenancy agreements for farmland close to the city because they may wish to sell as the price of land rises, and this discourages farmers from planting tree crops. In the competition for water, building materials and woodfuel between local communities and the city, poor people can lose out. Heavy demand by industry and urban households for water can threaten supplies to peri-urban areas, which need water for agriculture and domestic consumption. In Accra, whilst the majority of city dwellers have access to piped water, only 18 per cent of those on the city's margins do so. Changes in employment and wages Agricultural intensification can lead to a greater need for farm workers and higher wages.