Appraising peri-urban food production in Durban, South Africa, with Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS)

Rapid urbanisation, particularly in the Global South, calls for more efficient and equitable food supply in urban and peri-urban areas. Peri-urban food production can be a source of affordable, fresh, and nutritious food, and can provide a departure from conventional forms of cropping. A number of social, ecological, and economic variables influence the feasibility of peri-urban food production. This study uses participatory mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) to assess these variables, and to map suitable spaces and crop configurations for peri-urban food production at three sites on the periphery of eThekwini metropolitan municipality (Durban) in South Africa. We find that land tenure and livelihood opportunities factor into socioeconomic preferences for peri-urban food production. Topography and soil quality are ecological factors that significantly influence feasibility of peri-urban food production, and access to water and roads also influence economic viability. Our study finds that while GIS techniques can identify land suitability, participatory mapping adds local fine-scale context to better inform decision-making and investment in peri-urban farming. Based on the social-ecological conditions at the three sites, we suggest specific configurations of locally adapted foods and farm design for peri-urban food production.