Site Suitability Analysis Of Land For Urban Agricultural Development Using Geospatial Technology: The Case Of Adama City, Ethiopia

Abstract

Urbanization and population growth lead to rapid changes in Land use and landcover (LULC) and human population densities. LULC dynamics contribute to agricultural land degradation and biodiversity loss, as well as the displacing of urban greenery. Urban agriculture is one of the best options for mitigating negative environmental effects and is a possible solution to food insecurity by encouraging the urban poor to grow their own fresh foods and to live in a sustainable environment. Land suitability analysis is crucial for the evaluation and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for agriculture. Thus, the study demonstrates that analysis of urban LULC changes and other determinant factors for urban agricultural development by the use of geospatial technology based Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) techniques for the selection of suitable sites for urban agricultural land using the thematic maps of each criteria, which were prepared and standardized using a pair-wise comparison matrix known as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). According to obtained results, from the total area of 30963.01ha found in the study area, 5226.87ha (16.88%) was highly suitable, 11804.23ha (37.62%) was moderately suitable, 10802.12ha (34.39%) was less suitable, 2868.68ha (9.26%) was determined as not suitable, and 261.11ha (1.84%) was permanently not suitable for agriculture in the study area. Therefore, the final suitability map provides a better guideline for future urban agricultural land suitability in Adama City. Thus, the study implies an urban agricultural land suitability analysis aimed at identifying environmentally safe and economically feasible sites for future urban agricultural development. The study provides directions for different urban agricultural suitable lands in the study area that would support city planners and policymakers in acting on identified suitable land in the city and also support the government in formulating effective agricultural policies to enhance urban agricultural productivity.