Impacts sur la santé des pratiques des agriculteurs urbains à Dakar (Sénégal)

Abstract

Urban agriculture plays an important role in the economy of developing countries. In Dakar (Senegal), this activity produces 70 % of the demand in vegetables and also provides thousands of direct and indirect jobs. In spite of this very important social and economic role, the urban agriculture in Dakar is confronted with two major problems : the land insecurity and the limited access to water. To cope with these constraints, growers use methods that have consequences on the environment and human health. The objective of this study is to analyze the health impacts of agricultural practices in a context of continuing urbanization. Following this work, the research reveals that agricultural practices in the Niayes (agricultural region) of Dakar have one hand enormous impacts on the health of farmers and surrounding populations and also in the medium term these impacts will be accentuated by the strong urbanization of the area. Indeed, the current agricultural practices in water management and use of pesticides put in perspective with the changes inherent in the high urbanization may upset the existing spatial synergies in urban production systems.

Keywords

• health
• urban agriculture
• urbanization
• Senegal
• agricultural practices
• Dakar