Integrating Urban Farming into Urban Transect of Greater Cairo Region

Abstract

Urban farming is becoming more prevalent in cities all over the world as it plays important roles in economic, environmental and social fields. Recently, new methods and techniques have facilitated farming activities in different spatial typologies in intra-urban areas that have high built-up density and suffer from urbanization problems. These diversities utilize urban spaces in a way that suit different urban contexts conditions and serve citizens’ different needs. Hence, this research aims at studying Urban farming integration in different intra-urban areas. It focuses on both the physical applicability and social willingness of different spatial alternatives in the focus contexts. The research studies the variation in the built-up environment and open spaces for Urban farming integration across GCR transects, in order to discuss the physical potentials and limitations in each quarter. It conducts a comparative analytical study through field surveys and semi-structured questionnaires in both New Cairo and Nasr City. This intent to investigate the potential spatial alternatives for urban farming integration and residents’ preferences. This study results shows both the potential spatial alternatives and existing obstacles in both contexts. Moreover, it shows residents’ needs and preferences in relevance to urban farming and their willingness to exploit different spatial alternatives with any of urban farming methods. It also deduces the factors affecting the spatial integration of urban farming trough GCR.