Peri-urban
farming,
which
involves
small-scale
crop
and
livestock
production
in
and
around
towns
and
cities,
often
on
undeveloped
land,
road
verges,
wetlands,
or
other
open
spaces,
has
become
increasingly
common
in
recent
years.
Many
urban
residents,
especially
in
areas
around
Harare,
Bulawayo,
Gweru,
and
Mutare,
have
turned
to
it
to
boost
their
food
supplies
or
incomes.
However,
the
government
insists
that
farming
should
only
take
place
on
land
formally
designated
for
agricultural
use.
Responding
to
questions
in
Parliament
on
Wednesday,
Lands,
Agriculture,
Fisheries,
Water
and
Rural
Development
Minister
Anxious
Masuka
said
urban
and
peri-urban
settlements
are
meant
for
residential
purposes
and
are
therefore
unsuitable
for
farming.
He
warned
that
unregulated
cultivation
in
such
areas
can
harm
the
environment,
block
drainage
systems,
and
put
additional
pressure
on
city
infrastructure.
Said
Masuka:
“It
is
important
to
note
that
agriculture
is
designated
for
agricultural
zones.“Urban
areas
are
primarily
residential
and
do
not
accommodate
farming
activities.“In
Zimbabwe,
we
have
established
that
urban
agriculture
is
not
permitted,
as
farming
should
take
place
on
land
specifically
allocated
for
agricultural
purposes,
not
within
urban
settlements.”