Urban horticulture for a better environment: A case study of Cotonou, Benin

Farming in town, be it livestock or crop production, is often considered detrimental to the urban environment. Less well known are the beneficial effects of farming for the urban environment. Both the positive and negative effects have been poorly researched. This paper deals with urban horticulture in Cotonou (Benin) and focuses on the role this sector plays in relation to two urban environmental aspects, namely solid waste and liquid waste. The sector was found to be currently contributing to a better environment in various ways and, potentially, the benefits could be even greater.