Annex 1 - Why City Managers Face Growing Food Supply and Distribution Problems
Annex 2 - Examples of Interventions at Regional Metropolitan, Urban and Local Level
Annex 3 - Needs of Food Supply and Distribution Agents
Annex 4 - Role of City and Local Authorities to Reduce Difficulties Faced by Food Supply and Distribution Agents
Annex 5 - Role of Urban Planners in Supporting Urban and Periurban Food Production
Annex 6 - Relation between Policy Goals and Objectives: An Example
Annex 7 - Urban Markets: Responsibility for Providing Infrastructure, Facilities and Services
Annex 8 - An Urban Programme and an Urban Distribution Subprogramme Arranged by Action Plans
Annex 9 - From Constraint Analysis to Policy Implementation and Monitoring
Annex 10 - Urban Food Supply and Distribution Policy: Management Structure
Annex 11 - Suggested Reading
If the challenge of feeding cities and the growing number of poor urban households is met adequately, the development of periurban and rural areas will also be promoted.
Insufficient concern and focus
Most city and local authorities believe that food supply and distribution issues are not their responsibility. Their emphasis is on public health, education, housing, environment, sanitation and traffic control. However, the most typical functions of city and local authorities affect food supply and distribution systems directly or indirectly. Food supply and distribution aspects are not successfully taken into account in planning at regional, metropolitan, urban and local level.
Fragmented boundaries
Jurisdiction over cities is often fragmented between a number of city and local authorities varying in size and legal status. This limits their capacity to regulate physical development of urban settlements and ensure provision of essential market infrastructure, facilities and services.
Fragmented responsibilities
Responsibility for providing market and transport infrastructure as well as facilities and services for food suppliers and distributors is often fragmented between a number of agencies controlled at various levels of government. Functions often overlap at the city level. Policy coordination and accountability are often weak.
Uninformed decision-makers
City and local authorities tend to see urban food producers and traders as a nuisance because of the negative implications of their activities for public health, environment and traffic. Decisions may also be taken on the basis of political considerations rather than sound planning principles.
Weak city and local authorities
City and local authorities lack legal authority and resources to perform their statutory functions. They are dependent on central government for legislative authority to raise revenue, acquire land and control development.
Inadequate resources and expertise
City and local authorities direct interventions are constrained by scarce financial resources, technical and managerial expertise and limited understanding of food supply and distribution systems.
Regional level Food supply to cities
Health and environment
|
Metropolitan level Food supply to cities
Urban food distribution
Health and environment
|
Urban level Food supply to cities
Urban food distribution
Health and environment
|
Local level Food supply to cities
Urban food distribution
Health and environment
|
Source: Balbo, M., Visser, C. and Argenti, O., 2000.
Producers
Transporters
Transport costs often represent the bulk of marketing costs. Food transporters need roads, parking, loading, unloading, resting facilities, vehicle and cargo security.
Traders and Shopkeepers
Market Managers
Consumers
Constraints |
Instruments |
Collaboration with: |
Lack of trade finance. |
Support initiatives to improve supply of finance to
micro-entrepreneurs. Encourage secure and transferable ownership of
stocks. |
Private financial intermediaries, government institutions and
non governmental organizations. |
Transport: |
|
|
Poor rural-urban transport facilities. |
Ensure, through policy dialogue, that rural-urban road, water
transport and rail infrastructure development plans take account of the needs of
food trade. |
Trader and transporter associations and central government
agencies involved in urban planning, transport and communications. |
Lack of parking and handling facilities at urban markets
and slaughterhouses. |
Locate markets and slaughterhouses at sites with adequate
parking space. Invest in off-loading and sorting facilities at
markets. |
Trader and transporter associations and central government
agencies involved in urban planning. |
Tax burden on traders (especially collectors) and
transporters. |
Rationalize policy on taxes and levies imposed on food
products in transit to cities. |
City and local authorities on food supply routes and
ministries of local government and finance. |
Bribes and delays at security checkpoints. |
Encourage, through policy dialogue, reduction in number of
checkpoints and improved standards of discipline among security
personnel. |
Trader and transporter associations; Ministry of the Interior
and security agencies. |
Lack of warehouse and storage facilities. |
Promote private investment in warehouse and storage facilities
through providing serviced sites and transport facilities. Promote
warehouse-management training. |
Trader associations, Ministry of Finance, investment promotion
centers and training institutions. |
Food traders have inadequate trading, financial and management
skills. |
Training programmes and information campaigns. |
Trader associations, media and training
institutions. |
Health, environment and security: |
|
|
Lack of effective food quality control. |
Ensure, through dialogue with relevant agencies, revision and
strict enforcement of laws on food quality and consumer protection. Educate
traders(especially street food sellers) and consumers through training and
public information campaigns. |
Trade and consumer associations, legislators, food standards
body, law enforcement agencies, media and training institutions. |
Unhygienic conditions at markets and
slaughterhouses. |
Provide basic shelter, drainage, sanitation, waste disposal
facilities. Revise and enforce bylaws and educate traders on hygiene standards
at markets. Educate consumers on food hygiene. |
Trade and consumer associations, legislators, food standards
body, law enforcement agencies, media and training institutions. |
Lack of security at markets. |
Provide fences and the presence of police or private
guardians. |
Trade, transporter and consumer associations; Ministry of the
Interior and security agencies. |
Consumers need concrete action against possible fraud in food markets
Scale of Intervention |
Action |
Role of Planner |
Regional, metropolitan and urban. |
Stop destroying food crops and evicting food producers from
public lands under cultivation. |
Contribute to the formulation and adoption of policies which
recognize the role of urban and periurban food production. |
National legislation; urban and local land
regulations. |
Revise land-use and ownership legislation and regulations and
improve their applicability. |
Identify norms, regulations and documents to be
modified. |
Regional, metropolitan and urban. |
Adopt simple zoning regulations to support urban
and periurban food production and livestock activities. |
Prepare zoning regulations. |
Urban and local. |
Define criteria for land allocation. |
Preparation of public-private leasehold contracts. |
Regional, metropolitan and urban. |
Constitute land reservoirs for urban and periurban food
production in future urbanized areas. |
Elaborate strategic planning documents identifying areas to be
assigned to urban and periurban food production. |
Urban and local. |
Provide safe water for irrigation and safe fertilizers using
city waste. |
Prepare plans for safe water facilities and for processing
city waste into safe fertilizers. Information campaigns on health and
environment consequences of unsatisfactory use of water and city
waste. |
Source: Balbo, M., Visser, C. and Argenti, O., 2000.How much would it cost to provide street vendors with information on personal hygiene and good food handling practices, simple tools and a small bench to keep food away from dust and mud?
Policy Goal |
|
Objective 1 |
Objective 2 |
Possible concerned units: |
Possible concerned units: |
Traders and shopkeepers need to follow good hygiene practices in handling and processing fish as well as keeping clean trading surroundings. Fish markets and shops need adequate facilities including water, ice, waste bins and cold stores.
Infrastructure, Facilities and Services |
Characteristics and Form of Provision |
Provider and Responsibilities |
Basic trading infrastructure located in major business
districts: market stalls, shops and warehouses. |
Feasible to charge economic user fees because of private good
characteristics. Therefore commercial provision (by private or public-private
mix) is possible. |
Planning and design: city and local authorities (CLAs).
Investment: mix of CLAs and private capital (including prefinance by traders).
Management: autonomous, arms-length agency with clear commercial mandate or
private. |
Basic trading infrastructure located in poor suburbs/slums:
market stalls and shops. |
Private investment in open markets may be inadequate by
possible limited returns. Charging economic user-fees is feasible but exclusion
of non payers may have wider health and environmental effects. Possibility of
mixed provision. Private food shops and sales from homes need to be
encouraged. |
Planning and design: CLAs. Investment: mix of CLA, community
and trader associations and community labour. Management: community or trader
associations. |
Cold storage facilities, slaughterhouses, on-site processing
plants and transport. |
Commercial provision. Those provided by governments tend to
suffer from poor management and maintenance. |
Planning guidelines and regulation: CLAs. Design, investment
and management: private. |
Parking space and child day-care facilities. |
Charging economic user-fees is feasible but exclusion of
non-payers may have wider social and environmental effects. |
Planning, design and investment in infrastructure: CLAs
(private only in major business districts). Management: private. |
Roads, public drains and sanitation facilities. |
Difficult to exclude non payers and negative effects of non-
provision on others. Public provision necessary. |
Planning and design: CLAs and Department of Urban Planning.
Investment: central government(Ministry of Finance). |
Regulations and policing including food import controls,
quality control, health and food safety standards. |
Typical example of public good. |
Drafting bylaws and legislative instruments on standards:
CLAs, food standards agency. Gazette regulations: central government
(legislature). Enforcement: police and judiciary. |
Urban Market Improvement - Action Plan
Expected results in six years:
1. Infrastructure improved in five urban markets.Markets and slaughterhouses need efficient waste collection systems to maintain hygienic conditions, avoid food contamination and ease traffic.
2. Hygiene and safety standards defined and enforced.
3. Effective market management.
Food Retail Outlets in Low-Income Districts - Action Plan
Expected results in four years:
1. Four new open retail markets established.Low-income urban areas need simple retail markets. These have to be planned and provided with protection from the sun, wind, dust and rain.
2. Food traders and street vendors trained.
3. Appropriate regulations approved and enforced.
4. Consumers informed about fair trading practices and food hygiene.
Institution Strengthening - Action Plan
Expected results in two years:
1. Training programmes and material prepared on food supply and distribution.City and local authorities need trained staff capable of meeting the challenges of dynamic situations.
2. Municipal technical staff trained.
3. Decision-makers sensitized.
FSD |
Food supply and distribution |
FSDS |
Food supply and distribution system |
FSD |
Food supply and distribution |
Source: adapted from Onumah, E. G. and Hubbard, M., 1999.
General reading
Aho, G., Larivière, S. and Martin, F. 1998. Poverty Analysis Manual. With Applications in Benin. Laval. Université Laval and UNDP.
Argenti, O. 1999. Urban Food Security and Food Marketing. A Challenge to Cities and Local Authorities. Food into Cities Collection, DT/40-99E. Rome, FAO.
Argenti, O. (ed.). 1999. Food into Cities: Selected Papers. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 132. Rome, FAO.
FAO. 1998. Feeding the Cities. In: The State of Food and Agriculture 1998. Food into Cities Collection, DT/39-98E.Rome.
Garrett, J. L. and Ruel, M. T. (ed.). 2000. Achieving Urban Food and Nutrition Security in the Developing World. 2020 Vision Focus 3, August 2000. Washington, D.C., IFPRI.
Wilhelm, L. 1997. Food Supply and Distribution to Francophone African Cities. Synthesis of the papers presented to the FAO-ISRA Sub-Regional Seminar, Dakar, 14-17 April 1997. Food into Cities Collection, DT/31-99E. Rome, FAO.
FSDS analysis, policies and programmes
Aragrande, M. and Argenti, O. 1999. Studying Food Supply and Distribution Systems to Cities in Developing Countries. Methodological and Operational Guide. Food into Cities Collection, DT/36-01E. Rome, FAO.
Balbo, M., Visser, C. and Argenti, O. 2000. Food Supply and Distribution to Cities in Developing Countries. A Guide for Urban Planners and Managers. Food into Cities Collection, DT/44-00E. Rome, FAO.
Cullinan, C. 1997. Legal Aspects of Urban Food Marketing Supply and Distribution. Food into Cities Collection, DT/14-97E. Rome, FAO.
Cullinan, C. 2000. Law and Markets. Improving the Legal Environment for Agricultural Marketing. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 139. Rome, FAO.
FAO. 1999. Food into Cities. North-South Partnerships and Technical Cooperation between city and local authorities. Food into Cities Collection, DIG/11-99E. Rome.
Hugon, Ph. et Kervarek, F. Politiques municipales dappui au secteur alimentaire informel. Food into Cities Collection, DT/45-01F. Rome,FAO.
Onumah, G.E. and Hubbard, M. 1999. Urban Food Supply and Distribution: a Policy Approach to Urban Poverty Alleviation. Food into Cities Collection, DT/41-99E. Rome, FAO.
Tracey-White, J. 2000. Market Infrastructure Planning. AGuide for Decision Makers. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 141. Rome, FAO.
Urban and periurban food production
FAO. 2000. APolicy Framework for Municipal Authorities on Growing Cities, Growing Food. Rome.
Quon, S. 1999. Planning for Urban Agriculture. A Review of Tools and Strategies for Urban Planners. Cities Feeding People Series, Report No. 28. Ottawa, IDRC.
Health and environment
- 1999. Urban Challenges to Food and Nutrition Security in the Developing World. World Development, Volume 27(11). Oxford, UK, Elsevier Science Ltd.
Atkinson, A. and Allen, A. 1998. The Urban Environment in Development Cooperation. An Overview. Brussels, European Commission.
FAO. 1999. Urban and Periurban Forestry. Case Studies in Developing Countries. Rome.
Workshop reports and case studies
These documents may be freely downloaded from the SADA Web site: