Effects of urbanisation on urban residents’ perception of vegetable production in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

In the context of rapid and unplanned urbanisation in many Sub-Saharan African cities, the social and political context of urban and peri-urban vegetable production is becoming unfriendly despite its multifunctionality in achieving human development. This paper aims at measuring the effects of urbanisation on urban residents’ perception of vegetable production in urban and peri-urban areas of Yaoundé, Cameroon. Data from a survey conducted by the World Vegetable Centre among urban residents living within and around vegetable production areas was employed for the study. The results show that urban residents agree with vegetable production in their vicinity, but depending on the extent of urbanisation, the magnitude of their positive perception varies significantly from one production area to another. More specifically, while proximity to the city centre increases the likelihood of urban residents’ ability to agree with local vegetable production, the density of the population decreases this positive perception instead.