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Land tenure

As cities grow, the demand for food increases, and areas suitable for agriculture diminish. New urban populations seek access to cultivable land, while land values rise as demand for non-agricultural use grows. In emergency situations there is often a need to introduce temporary tenure arrangements, which allow the temporary utilisation of vacant land for food production and livelihood maintenance, as well as for the temporary settlement of the displaced population.

As a starting point for long term improvement, land tenure arrangements for urban food production can be addressed in a land policy that recognises and provides for urban agriculture.

Selected documents

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