Local public markets infrastructure and urban food systems in African small cities: insights from Arusha, Tanzania

Abstract

African small cities of less than half a million residents are absorbing two-thirds of all urban population growth. These cities suffer from urbanisation challenges, lack of planning and services needed to cope with growth, which has resulted in spatial inequalities and inequitable access to basic necessities and amenities. With the current outbreak of COVID-19, various approaches are taken to prevent the spread of the virus, contain widespread transmission, and flatten the curves of infections. This commentary examines local markets infrastructure and the impact the COVID-19 preventive measures may bring on access to food in African small cities.

Improvement on the well-being of women with disabilities upon accessing LGA loan in Arusha. A case of Arusha city council

“…According to a 2012 Census, the popu lation was 416,442 people, of which 199,524 are male and 216,918 are female. The study area is selected due to the fact that it is one of the areas which empower disable groups (Arusha City Council, 2022;Abwe, 2020).…”

Introduction: African Secondary City Food Systems in Context

“…In Oshakati-Ondangwa-Ongwediva and Dschang, most households were severely food insecure. It is likely that other dimensions of food insecurity are also different in primary and secondary cities; for example, where the relative diversity of food retail sources creates advantages in primary cities (Mackay, 2019) and where proximity to rural areas and agricultural production creates advantages in secondary cities (Abwe & Daniel, 2021).…”

Marketplaces

“…And perhaps most importantly, the marketplace constitutes part of the minimal urban infrastructure required to meet basic human survival needs in many cities worldwide (Abwe, 2020). They function as the economic engine that connects rural farmers to urban traders and urban consumers, as an active part of the supply and demand chain as the basics of economics.…”