Bridging the Gap: Misaligned Perceptions of Urban Agriculture and Health Between Planning and Design Experts and Urban Farmers in Greater Lomé, Togo

Abstract

Urban agriculture (UA) is a longstanding practice in African cities, characterized by some distinctive features. In particular, the amount of land devoted to UA in these cities exceeds that used in Western countries, presenting challenges in areas such as land tenure. Beyond land tenure, UA also intersects with significant health concerns, as it contributes to food security, nutrition, and urban environmental health. However, the literature highlights a gap: urban planners in Africa often show limited interest in the connection between UA and health, despite its significance. This article addresses this gap by bringing together perspectives from architects, urban planners, geographers, economists, and sociologists to explore the links between human health and UA. The experts’ points of view are contrasted with ideas drawn from surveys of urban farmers in Greater Lomé, Togo, and official urban planning documents. Methodologically, 11 experts were selected in Greater Lomé and interviewed virtually via Zoom 5.6.6, and their audio files were anonymized, transcribed, and manually coded. According to the experts, the impacts of UA practices on human health and the built environment in Greater Lomé are mixed. This study’s key findings reveal that urban farmers identify a variety of challenges, including health-related difficulties, while experts tend to assume different health concerns, highlighting a disconnect between the two perspectives. The authors recommend developing joint planning guides in collaboration with experts from various fields in the cities concerned, in order to recognize local knowledge and integrate the perspectives of urban farmers into UA policies.

1. Introduction

Most of Africa’s economy is based on agriculture, especially in rural areas, but urban agriculture (UA) is also a longstanding practice on the continent. Anchored in African practices for many years, whereby every inhabitant of the town maintains at least one small farm next to or in their house, UA is strategically important to the continent’s economy [1,2].

UA plays an essential role in addressing food security and sustainable development challenges in African cities. However, its health implications, particularly regarding diseases associated with UA practices, such as waterborne diseases (cholera, dysentery, and diarrhea), zoonotic diseases, vector-borne diseases, respiratory issues, soil-borne diseases and parasitic infections, foodborne illnesses, heavy metal toxicity, and chemical poisoning, remain an underexplored area in urban planning research. Previous research conducted by the authors [3,4] identified significant gaps in the integration of health concerns into UA studies. These gaps highlight the need to examine health-related challenges, such as human diseases linked to UA practices, in order to ensure that urban planning frameworks address both the opportunities and risks of UA. By including disease-focused questions in this study, the research aimed to bridge this gap and provide insights into the health dimension of UA in Greater Lomé, which is often overlooked in the urban planning literature.

As previously mentioned, UA is often discussed as a measure of food security in many countries, particularly in contexts where self-consumption is a key strategy for individuals and families lacking the financial means to purchase food from markets [3]. However, in Greater Lomé, the role of UA differs; it is primarily an income-generating activity, where agricultural products are market-oriented, not for subsistence. This reflects the socio-economic and cultural dynamics of the region, which influence the ways in which UA contributes to urban livelihoods. By examining UA in this specific context, this study seeks to provide insights into how its purpose and implications may vary across different settings. As an African nation, Togo shares this reality, with a significant share of its economic activity based on the agricultural sector, representing around 40% of its GDP [5]. Under the impact of rural exodus and the unemployment of the highly young urban population, UA is one of the strategies people use to enhance food security, which is closely tied to improved nutrition and overall health outcomes [6].

1.1. UA Dynamics in Greater Lomé

The city of Greater Lomé—the capital of Togo, and a dominant metropolis—is subject to the influence of UA, a phenomenon that shapes its urban landscape in a particular way [7,8]. In Greater Lomé, coastal areas, the city center, and urban peripheries are largely occupied by agricultural plots, ranging from small holdings of a few hundred square meters to vast expanses of hectares [8]. Urban farmers exploit a variety of cultivation practices and techniques adapted to constraints and opportunities. Fields range from vegetable and fruit crops to food and cereal crops and livestock.

Although agriculture has undergone technological developments in recent years (vertical farming, hydroponics, aeroponics, etc.), the soil remains the primary and traditional support for this activity in Greater Lomé [9]. This link to the soil can be attributed to various factors, including the availability of natural resources, established farming practices, and the preferences and skills of local farmers.

In Greater Lomé, land has a strong political and socio-economic character, as it does throughout Togo and the subregion, where it plays a central economic and cultural role [10]. Owning land and a house confers power, and acquiring even a modest plot of land often represents a significant investment. Often, up to half or more of the income generated throughout a professional career can be devoted to buying land and building a home. This emphasis on property ownership reflects the social and symbolic importance attached to land in Togolese society, to the extent that the appellations “Madame” and “Monsieur” literally translate as “Homeowner” (“apeno” and “apeto”, in Ewé) [11].

1.2. The Role of Expert Planners

To remedy these complexities and support the assimilation of the modern system—which is land registry in Togo, as in other parts of the African continent—various specialized professionals are involved in managing and handling land issues [12]. These include surveyors, urban planners, architects, geographers, economists, and other experts in the field. These experts play a necessary role in spatial planning and management, contributing their expertise to land policy analysis, mapping, design, and implementation. By working closely together, these professionals help to ensure the management of land resources.

UA is expanding in the Greater Lomé environment, but there is not much technical, legal, financial, or institutional framework [13]. Moreover, the lack of institutional recognition of UA often leads to land conflicts and inappropriate public policies that compromise the viability of agricultural initiatives in urban areas [14]. Indeed, the authorities often consider UA to be a dirty practice in urban spaces [15], reflecting a significant disconnect between land planning priorities, UA’s potential contributions, and the associated implications for human health. This perception undermines the recognition of UA as a key strategy for improving food security, nutrition, and environmental health in urban areas, highlighting the urgent need for integrated approaches that bridge these intersecting domains.

In light of all this information, it would be good to know how the various experts in Greater Lomé perceive the practice of UA, which, although it does not appear to be officially authorized or encouraged, is nevertheless widespread and visible in many urban areas. In general, urban land cultivation is attracting growing interest due to its potential to meet local food needs, promote environmental sustainability, and strengthen the resilience of urban communities [16]. However, the practice also raises questions about food security, public health, and urban planning [17]. Experts’ analysis can help inform policymakers on how to appropriately regulate and support UA to maximize its benefits while minimizing its adverse effects on public health and the environment [18]. The problem is that UA faces a notable gap between the problems perceived by experts and the actual challenges that urban farmers face [14]. This gap manifests in general challenges and specific issues related to farmers’ health such as rabies, malaria, sore eyes, stomach aches or diarrhea, and fragile health in general.

1.3. State of the Art and Contributions of the Study

The state of the art reveals that although UA in African cities is a growing topic of study in the scientific literature in the context of sustainable development and urban food security [19,20], it has not been sufficiently documented for the city of Greater Lomé. The city of Greater Lomé presents a unique and timely case for study due to its rapid urbanization, increasing population pressures, and the critical role of UA in addressing food security challenges and economic resilience. Furthermore, its geographic, socio-economic, and environmental dynamics offer a novel perspective to understand how UA can contribute to sustainable urban planning in the context of West African cities. Nevertheless, among the few publications that can be found, the socio-economic dimensions of UA receive considerable attention, highlighting how the practice contributes to urban household livelihoods and job creation [21].

Health and UA are frequently discussed topics [22] and could benefit from further attention on various dimensions. The existing literature highlights several intersections between health and UA. Studies have shown that UA can contribute positively to food security and improved nutrition, which are essential components of public health in urban settings [2,23]. However, it also introduces risks, such as exposure to contaminated soil and water, pesticide use, and the spread of zoonotic diseases from livestock [24]. Additionally, the physical demands of farming, combined with inadequate protective measures, often result in occupational health issues among urban farmers [25]. Despite these risks, UA has been recognized as a critical coping mechanism for marginalized urban populations, especially in regions with fragile healthcare systems and limited access to nutritious food [8]. These dimensions suggest the need for a more integrated approach to address health challenges while maximizing the benefits of UA [26]. Research has often been based on documentary or satellite data, questionnaires, or focus groups administered to urban farmers [27,28,29,30].

UA profoundly influences farmers’ health, yet urban planners and related experts often prioritize land management without adequately considering health implications. This study seeks to uncover the disconnects and dialectics between the perceptions of experts and the lived realities of farmers, focusing on the intersections of UA, land planning, and health. Therefore, the research question is as follows: How does UA influence farmers’ health, and how do disconnects between experts’ perceptions and farmers’ lived realities, particularly in the context of land planning and health, shape these dynamics?

The overall aim is to better understand the relationship between the UA and health dialectic in Greater Lomé and the realities of practice. The first specific objective of this study is to compare experts’ perceptions of UA problems with farmers’ actual experiences. The second specific objective of the study aims to identify and analyze the perceptions of the effects of UA on health, in order to align the three main corpora: experts, urban farmers, and planning documents. Therefore, the originality of this study lies in the triangulation of three different corpora and the use of mixed methods of analysis to provide the results of a comparison between farmers’ disclosures, what urban planners perceive, and what planning documents say about the association of UA with health and the needs of these farmers in the field.

2. Methods

The literature reveals that studies of UA and health in Africa have rarely used mixed methods [3]. Therefore, this study proposes applying mixed methods to both data collection and analysis, in order to strengthen the results.

2.1. The Study Area

This study is based in Greater Lomé, a district of 425.6 km², which is Togo’s capital and most populous metropolis (Figure 1). This major city is located in the country’s southwestern region, bordering Ghana, and stretching along the coastline of the Gulf of Guinea. Greater Lomé is composed of 13 municipalities. In 2020, its population was estimated at 2,362,366, representing a density of around 7000 inhabitants per km² and 24% of the national population, compared with 1,571,508 in 2010, according to the 2010 General Census of Population and Housing. Recognized as the administrative, economic, and commercial heart of Togo, Greater Lomé also plays a crucial role as a key seaport in West Africa. The city is distinguished by its vibrant market, offering a captivating mix of colonial and contemporary architecture, complemented by wide palm-shaded avenues and easily accessible beaches. Despite urban development and economic expansion challenges, Greater Lomé stands out for its dynamism and hospitality, embodying Togo’s diversity and cultural richness.

Greater Lomé was chosen as the focus of this study due to its rapid urbanization, significant population density, and its critical reliance on UA to address food security and economic challenges. As a growing metropolitan area with unique socio-economic and environmental characteristics, Lomé provides an ideal setting to explore the intersections of land planning, UA, and human health. Additionally, its strategic role in the region offers insights that may be applicable to other West African cities facing similar pressures.

2.2. The Data Collection Phase

To address the significant gap identified in the literature regarding the use of mixed and qualitative methods in studies on UA and health in Africa, the authors conducted a systematic literature review, which has been published in MDPI’s Urban Science [3]. This review reveals not only the limited application of such methods but also the inadequacy of existing studies in capturing the nuanced socio-economic, cultural, and health-related dynamics of UA. Existing research emphasizes that UA intersects with complex, context-specific challenges, such as access to land, health risks, and policy disconnects, which are best understood through methodological approaches integrating quantitative data with qualitative insights [31]. Mixed methods have been shown to provide a richer understanding of complex phenomena by combining numerical trends with the depth of human experiences, particularly in interdisciplinary fields such as UA and health [32]. Moreover, qualitative methods allow for the exploration of farmers’ lived experiences and their interactions with urban policies and health systems, which are critical to developing actionable solutions [33]. By employing these approaches, this study seeks to address these complexities and provide holistic insights to inform urban planning and public health strategies in Africa.

Semi-structured interviews were employed to capture in-depth perspectives from key stakeholders, such as architects, urban planners, and academics, whose insights are critical to understanding the integration of UA into planning and its health implications. Surveys were designed to gather quantitative data from practitioners actively engaged in UA, enabling the identification of broader trends and patterns. Policy document analysis was conducted to examine the existing planning frameworks and their relevance to UA and health. This mixed-methods approach was intentionally selected to triangulate data and ensure a holistic understanding of the complex interactions between UA, planning, and health in the study area.

2.2.1. Interviews

The semi-structured interviews were designed to gather diverse perspectives from professionals directly involved in UA and health-related issues in Greater Lomé. Our approach prioritized capturing in-depth insights from a targeted group of experts, including architects, urban planners, and academics, because of their unique contributions to the topic. Architects were included due to their role in designing spaces that integrate UA, balancing functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability within the urban fabric. Their expertise is necessary in understanding how physical spaces can support or hinder the practice of UA and its associated health outcomes. Academics were included for their critical research-based perspectives and their ability to provide theoretical and empirical insights into the connections between urban planning, agriculture, and health. The method was shaped by the need to adapt to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated remote communication. The selection of participants, drawn from professional organizations and academic institutions, aimed to ensure that their expertise aligned with the study’s objectives, allowing for a detailed exploration of UA’s integration into planning and its relationship with health.

Semi-structured interviews were therefore conducted with eleven junior and senior experts, including both men and women, to describe this UA trend in Greater Lomé [34]. Everyone sampled agreed to participate and signed a consent form. The interviews were conducted in French to capture the depth of the responses, French being the official language of Togo. The interview text questions and responses were translated after analysis. The aim was to capture diverse perspectives on the UA phenomenon in Greater Lomé. It was decided to conduct a semi-structured interview to guide the experts and give them free rein to express their ideas. The interview was conducted via the Zoom platform version 5.6.6 [35,36,37] after the protocols had been sent in advance. Zoom 5.6.6 also makes it possible to access people without travelling, given that data collection occurred during COVID-19, when borders were difficult to access. However, relying on an online video platform introduces potential biases compared to face-to-face interviews. For instance, technical issues such as unstable Internet connections may disrupt the flow of conversation, limiting the depth of responses [38]. Additionally, the lack of physical presence can reduce the ability to interpret non-verbal cues, which are often critical for understanding participants’ perspectives [39]. This format may also affect the level of engagement or trust between the interviewer and interviewee, potentially influencing the richness and authenticity of the data collected [40]. Despite these challenges, online platforms provided a practical solution for overcoming logistical barriers during the pandemic.

The limited accessibility to the study site during this period posed significant challenges for data collection, particularly in ensuring a representative sample. As a result, this study relied on a convenience sampling method, which, while practical under constrained conditions, introduces potential biases. Convenience sampling often limits the diversity of respondents and may over-represent certain groups while excluding others who are less accessible, thereby reducing the generalizability of the findings. This method also risks amplifying pre-existing patterns or perspectives that align with the researchers’ access points, potentially skewing the interpretation of the results. Convenience sampling was chosen as the method of choice [41]. The participants were selected using a convenience sampling method, which was chosen due to the logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for remote communication. This method involved reaching out to professionals from organizations such as the National Order of Architects of Togo (ONAT) and the National Order of Urban Planners of Togo (ONUT), as well as academic institutions in Greater Lomé. Teachers and researchers from schools and universities were also contacted. While convenience sampling allows for practical access to participants, it introduces potential biases, such as over-representing certain groups (e.g., academics or senior professionals) and excluding others who may be less accessible. This could affect the generalizability of the findings by amplifying perspectives that align with the researchers’ access points, potentially skewing the interpretation of results. Despite these limitations, the sampling method ensured that participants were highly knowledgeable about UA and its integration into planning, aligning with the study’s objectives.

The research started with a list of architects and urban planners from the National Order of Architects of Togo (ONAT) and the National Order of Urban Planners of Togo (ONUT), respectively, followed by teachers and researchers from schools and universities in the city in question. The subjects were contacted by e-mail and telephone, and those who showed interest agreed to make an appointment for the interview.

The interviews lasted between 45 min and 2 h following these guiding questions:

• What types of tools regulate urban planning in Togo?
• What documents are you aware of that have been drawn up for planning the city of Lomé?
• Have you ever participated in the development of one or more of these documents?
• Do you know what UA is? If so, how do you define it?
• Has UA been taken into account in the planning documents you mentioned?
• In your opinion, does UA have advantages, disadvantages or both?
• If there are, what are they?
• Do you know if UA has any specific health impacts? If so, what are they?
• How long have you lived in Lomé?
• Do you know whether UA is practiced in Lomé? If so, is it legal or legitimate?
• Are you aware of the difficulties facing urban farmers in Lomé? If so, what are they?
• Do you think it would be useful or not for health to integrate UA into planning documents?
• Do you have any planning documents and GIS data or data sources for the city of Lomé to share with us, with a view to furthering our research?

During these sessions, in-depth discussions were held, enabling the research team to explore in detail the various aspects of the topic addressed. The general themes of the discussion concerned their knowledge of planning documents, the place of the subject of UA and its relationships with health in these documents, the problems of urban farmers, and the perspectives they have of the subject in Greater Lomé as planners. The interviews were conducted between April 2021 and December 2022. Interviews were designed to let the participants share their experiences, knowledge, and opinions by asking open-ended questions and encouraging in-depth discussion. The content of the responses reached the saturation point with these 11 experts, because they knew the topic quite well and the responses were repeated at several points, and the interview series was stopped at this point.

2.2.2. Surveys

The researchers targeted urban farmers in Greater Lomé to document their day-to-day challenges, particularly those linked to human health, within the context of UA. Due to constraints such as limited site accessibility during the pandemic, a convenience sampling approach was adopted. The survey targeted farmers who were present in their fields when the surveyors arrived and willing to participate. Some farmers were located in hard-to-reach areas, while others were unavailable because they had gone to sell their produce at the market during the survey visit. Additionally, some declined to participate due to concerns about potential political implications or because they were too occupied with their fieldwork. This methodology, despite its inherent limitations, enabled the collection of valuable data that highlight the practical realities and health concerns faced by urban farmers, complementing the expert interviews for a more comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Printed questionnaires were administered to farmers using a convenience sampling approach, with surveyors working in pairs. One surveyor asked the questions orally, while the other recorded the responses on a tablet using the Kobo application. The convenience sampling approach was used, focusing on the challenges encountered in UA practices [42], particularly those related to health [43]. The questionnaires were designed to gather comprehensive data on farmers’ challenges in their day-to-day activities, particularly with regard to health issues. The questionnaires were administered in March 2022. The questions that the participants were asked were as follows: What problems do you encounter in agriculture in Greater Lomé? What diseases do you think are caused by agricultural activity in Greater Lomé?

The questionnaires for farmers were designed to gather comprehensive data on the challenges they face in their day-to-day activities, particularly with regard to health issues, while the expert interviews focused on the broader conceptual and policy-level aspects of UA, land planning, and health. The two instruments were not identical but were complementary, with overlapping themes to enable comparison between the two datasets. For instance, while both sets of questions addressed challenges related to UA and health, the farmer questionnaires included simplified and practical questions tailored to their education level and daily experiences, such as health risks in the field and access to resources. In contrast, the expert interviews included open-ended and conceptual questions aimed at exploring policy frameworks, perceptions of UA’s role, and its integration into planning and health systems.

To guarantee comparability, both datasets were analyzed around shared themes, such as health challenges, resource access, and planning disconnects, allowing for the identification of discrepancies or alignments between farmers’ lived realities and experts’ perceptions. Adjustments in the level of detail and complexity were made for farmers to confirm inclusive and accurate responses while maintaining thematic consistency across the two groups.

2.2.3. Content Analysis

As the third material, three urban planning documents from Greater Lomé were collected, and Python 3.12 was used to create words related to agriculture and health.

The three planning documents for Greater Lomé, which were collected during the research, and were analyzed are as follows:

The Master Plan for Urban Planning and Development (SDAU) of Greater Lomé, Volume I—Report Presentation Volume I, produced by AGETUR-TOGO, G2 Conception International/Agence ECAUH, August 2018;

Urban Development Strategy for Greater Lomé “CDS Greater Lomé”, Volume I;

Urban Development Strategy for Greater Lomé “CDS Greater Lomé”, Volume II.

These three planning documents were selected because they are the only prominent and recent policy documents available for Greater Lomé. Since the 1981 Urban Master Plan (Plan Directeur d’Urbanisme, PDU) and a few subsequent Detailed Urban Plans (Plans d’Urbanisme de Détails, PUD), these documents represent the most comprehensive and up-to-date urban planning efforts for the city. The PDU itself was the second predictive document for the city following independence, succeeding the never-implemented 1969 Master Plan and the very first urban planning document created in 1913 at the request of the German Governor August Köhler. Developed by the Italian firm Technosynesis, the PDU laid the groundwork for modern urban planning in Lomé.

These selected documents are also publicly available, ensuring transparency and accessibility for analysis. They are representative of the data needed to answer the research question, as they encompass key planning strategies and policies directly addressing urban development, land use, and their intersection with socio-economic and environmental challenges in Greater Lomé. No additional planning documents were excluded, as these three are the most relevant and authoritative sources currently available for understanding the city’s urban planning framework.

The Urban Development Strategy du Grand Lomé (CDS) was launched by Cities Alliance in 2007–2008 and implemented by AGETUR-TOGO and G2 Conception in March 2011. This project aims to develop a common approach to urban development in the Greater Lomé region. This involves planning the construction of Greater Lomé to 2025 while addressing challenges such as rapid population growth, flooding, and access to socio-urban services.

2.3. The Analysis Phase

The analysis phase involved integrating findings from four data analysis methods to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the research topic. Each dataset—interview transcripts, survey responses, policy document analysis, and secondary literature review—was analyzed individually and then synthesized through a process of triangulation to identify key themes, patterns, and discrepancies.

The semi-structured interviews were transcribed and coded thematically using qualitative analysis software. Emerging themes such as perceptions of UA, health risks, and policy disconnects were identified and categorized. Quantitative data from the surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics to highlight trends and challenges faced by farmers, particularly regarding health and land management issues. These statistical insights provided a quantitative dimension to the qualitative findings. Content analysis was conducted on the planning documents to extract information related to UA, land use, and human health considerations. This involved identifying explicit and implicit references to UA policies and assessing their alignment with the challenges reported by farmers and experts. Insights from the systematic literature review provided a broader contextual framework, allowing comparisons between findings from Greater Lomé and other urban contexts in Africa.

The integration process involved comparing and cross-referencing themes across the datasets to identify points of convergence and divergence. For example, discrepancies between farmers’ lived realities and experts’ perceptions of health challenges were explored by aligning survey results with interview narratives and policy document findings. This approach ensured that the datasets complemented each other, enriching the overall analysis and enhancing the validity of the conclusions.

2.3.1. Analysis of Interview Data

For the analysis, the audio recordings collected via Zoom 5.6.6 were first transcribed manually to ensure accuracy. The transcripts were anonymized by removing any identifying information about the participants to maintain confidentiality. Once transcribed, the texts were analyzed through a manual coding process following these steps:

Initial reading and familiarization: the transcripts were carefully read multiple times to gain an in-depth understanding of the content and context. This step helped identify overarching themes and notable points mentioned by participants.

Code development: a coding framework was developed based on research objectives and key areas of interest, such as perceptions of UA, health challenges, policy impacts, and land management issues. Both deductive codes (derived from the research questions) and inductive codes (emerging organically from the data) were used to ensure a comprehensive analysis.

Text annotation and highlighting main points: the transcripts were annotated manually by assigning codes to specific segments of text that corresponded to the themes. Key quotes and observations were highlighted to provide evidence supporting the themes.

Thematic categorization: the codes were grouped into broader thematic categories to structure the analysis. For example, codes related to “health risks” and “access to resources” were grouped under a broader theme of “health challenges faced by farmers.”

Data summarization in a table: the coded data were synthesized and organized into a table format. This table included columns for participant IDs (anonymized), codes/themes, key quotes, and a summary of insights. This approach facilitated comparisons across participants and provided a clear visual representation of the findings.

Validation and refinement: the coded data and themes were reviewed and refined iteratively to ensure consistency and avoid researcher bias. This step also included cross-checking the data to confirm alignment with the research objectives.

This systematic coding and thematic analysis process enabled the identification of key patterns, discrepancies, and insights from the interviews, forming a foundation for integrating the findings with other datasets.

2.3.2. Analysis of Survey Data

The answers to the questionnaires were categorized in order to compare them with the experts’ responses. This classification made it possible to analyze and put into perspective the different points of view of farmers compared to those of specialists in the field.

2.3.3. The Material

The interview coding table was created using Microsoft Word 16. Microsoft Excel 16 was used to organize and summarize the data, enabling the identification of key trends and patterns emerging from the research. This approach allowed for a systematic synthesis of the findings, highlighting important insights related to UA, land planning, and health. While the study’s sample size (n = 11) is relatively small, the exploratory nature of this research focuses on uncovering perceptions and qualitative insights rather than aiming for generalizable statistical conclusions.

The three urban planning documents collected for Greater Lomé were analyzed with Python 3.12 to deduce the word counts related to agriculture and health.

The word selection process was as follows.

The list of ninety-three words was systematically generated through an iterative and exploratory process. To ensure relevance to the study’s objectives, the selection began with a focus on terms directly associated with UA, health, and urban planning. Synonyms and related terms were then identified using authoritative resources, such as academic literature, online thesauri, and contextual searches through platforms like Google Scholar and WordNet. This approach ensured the inclusion of a broad semantic range, capturing key concepts relevant to the intersections of UA and health.

Terms were initially grouped into thematic categories (e.g., transport, environment, health, production) to align with the research questions. During the analysis, additional words were considered and added if they emerged as significant from the context of the urban planning documents or expert interviews. For example, terms like “culture” and “soil” were included after identifying their relevance to farmers’ practices and perceptions.

To validate the selection, the list was cross-checked with existing studies in UA and urban health, ensuring consistency with established literature. This iterative process allowed flexibility to adapt the list as new insights emerged, while maintaining a strong foundation in the study’s core themes.

The Python 3.12 libraries were pandas, PyPDF2, collections, re, and os.

The list of words studied was as follows:

target_words = [

   “Transport”, “Routing”, “Displacement”, “Transfer”, “Vehicle”,

   “Logistics”, “Delivery”, “Infrastructure”, “Route”, “Road”,

   “Transporter”, “Transporteur”, “Voiture”, “Zemidjan”, “Zem”, “Moto”,

   “Cab”, “Tricycle”, “Pied”,

   “Sales”, “Sell”, “Sold”, “Merchandise”, “Flow”, “Trade”,

   “Transaction”, “Economy”, “Negotiation”, “Customer”, “Product”, “Store”,

   “Price”, “Offer”, “Balance”, “Promotion”, “Invoice”, “Discount”,

   “Profit”, “Stock”, “Economy”, “Contract”, “Marketing”, “Market”,

   “Exchange”, “Speculation”, “Water”, “River”, “River”, “Beach”, “Ocean”,

   “Valley”, “Lake”, “Ocean”,

   “Sea”, “Stream”, “Rain”, “Drip”, “Spring”, “Well”, “Irrigation”,

   “Pipes”, “Drinking”, “Fluid”, “Aquatic”, “Humidity”, “Flooding”,

   “Flow”, “Watering”, “Watering”, “Irrigation”, “Irrigate”, “Drip”,

   “Fertilizers”, “Pesticides”, “Insecticides”, “Herbicides”,

   “Chemicals”, “Soil”, “Rain”, “Climate”, “Female”, “Feminine”, “Female”,

   “Male”, “Masculin”, “Mâle”, “Agriculteurs”, “Cultivateurs”,

   “Producteurs”,

   “Neighbor”, “Inhabitants”, “Person”, “Pharmaceutical”, “Medicinal”,

   “Consumers”, “Buyers”, “Kitchen”, “Dishes”, “Food”, “Meals”, “Eats”,

   “Nourriture”, “Environment”, “Terre”, “Terrain”, “Sols”, “Infiltre”,

   “Physical”, “Body”, “Diseases”, “Psychological”, “Mental”, “Wellness”.

   ]

A total of ninety-three words were systematically selected by exploring synonyms and terms related to “agriculture”. This list, while not exhaustive, was designed to capture a broad semantic range, providing a foundational framework for analyzing language patterns and thematic associations relevant to this study’s objectives.

Once the tables of words and their occurrences had been produced as Excel files, these PDFs were opened with Adobe Acrobat reader and then with Firefox’s integrated PDF reader for verification and the number of words was recounted using the search function (Ctrl + F) on the computer keyboard. Adobe Acrobat could not count all of the words, but this was possible with Firefox.

The Python 3.12 code also made it possible to collect the sentences in which these words are located in an Excel table column. These sentences were read to check the context in which the words were used, and to see if they were related to UA. This was the case, for example, with “vegetable growing on the edge of the lagoon” and “cultural and leisure activities on the lagoon”, where the word “culture” is the same word used for both situations.

3. Results

This research, conducted on the perceptions and realities of UA among urban planning experts in Greater Lomé, resulted in findings organized into three distinct categories: Firstly, a comparison between the problems perceived by experts and those encountered by urban farmers. Secondly, the analysis highlights the mixed impacts of UA on health perceived by experts. The third category interrogates the content analysis of the Urban Development Master Plan (SDAU) and volumes I and II of the Urban Development Strategy for Greater Lomé (CDS), offering a critical overview of the place of UA in urban planning. Finally, this study highlights quotes from experts that resonate with insight or unexpectedness, testifying to the complexity and richness of expert perspectives on UA.

3.1. What Experts Think Farmers Are Facing, and What Farmers Are Facing

3.1.1. What Experts Think Farmers’ Problems Are

A table was constructed summarizing farmers’ various problems, classified into several categories: land speculation, production, economic/financial, commercial, human, external, environmental, and governmental. The analysis revealed significant challenges ranked by their level of importance based on frequency. Land-related issues, such as land speculation causing land loss and profitability concerns in the face of speculation, were the most recurrent, reported by n = 5/11 of the experts. Production challenges were also prominent, with n = 4/11 of the experts highlighting issues such as a lack of drinking water and n = 3/11 mentioning limited knowledge of best practices. Other production concerns included nuisance from livestock and transhumance (n = 2/11) as well as difficulties with storage, space, and transportation of goods (n = 1/11 each). Economic and financial issues were raised by n = 2/11 regarding financing requirements, and n = 1/11 mentioned high fertilizer prices. Challenges related to sales were highlighted by n = 2/11, focusing on merchandise flow and insufficient customer base, while competition was noted by n = 1/11. Human-related challenges included psychological issues (n = 1/11), chronic diseases (n = 1/11), and lack of availability or time (n = 1/11). External factors, such as theft of poorly protected equipment and urbanization, were each noted by n = 1/11. Environmental challenges, including climate change and plant diseases, were mentioned by n = 4/11. Finally, the lack of government support was emphasized as a critical obstacle by n = 4/11 of the experts.

In addition, and less frequently mentioned, were commercial problems such as an insufficient customer base, competition, and difficulties selling goods. Human challenges included psychological aspects, chronic illness, and a lack of availability of time and materials. External problems included urbanization and theft of poorly protected equipment. This analysis highlights the diversity and complexity of the challenges facing farmers from the point of view of 11 urban planning experts from Greater Lomé.

Here are some verbatims from the experts:

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“This type of agriculture has no land on which to express itself. These are the difficulties”.

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“Those who used to practice UA no longer have space”.

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“Rapid urbanization is advancing and taking land away from agriculture”.

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“Landowners are occupying their sites and land to develop projects”.

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“Now, for the neighbor who farms next to the empty plot, his difficulty is when the owner decides to actually settle on the land. That’s when he loses a production area”.

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“The profitability of their business doesn’t allow them to compete with land speculation”.

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“There are times when you don’t expect the rain, it comes, and times when you do expect the rain, it doesn’t come. It’s especially in the city that we notice this”.

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“…chronic illnesses…”

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“There are these illnesses that are increasing day by day, they’re having difficulties”.

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“So, it’s not with drinkable water that we water the planks in Lomé”.

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“…already weakened psychologically and financially added“.

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“… as it’s not an organized sector”.

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“The government doesn’t provide any such products, subsidies”.

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“The framework is not formal”.

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“Question of how much water to pour per day, diseases at the product level, there’s all that there that they don’t master”.

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“The government doesn’t provide enough resources, there’s no policy to support this type of agriculture, whereas elsewhere, UA is even supported”.

3.1.2. Urban Farmers’ Reported Challenges

Of the 203 participants surveyed, 197 responded to this question. The analysis, conducted using Excel, highlights that, according to the farmers, the data illustrate the problems encountered in UA in Greater Lomé: “It takes a lot of time”, “There is not much space”, “It is too much energy, it is too difficult”, “I don’t have enough guides or information”, “City regulations prevent it”, “The climate is bad”, “The soil is polluted”, “It is expensive”, “It is ugly and dirty”, “It is hard to get inputs”, “Lower sales volumes”, “It makes me sick”. The most frequently cited problem by the farmers was the time that it takes (over 60% of n = 197), followed by declining sales volumes and climate disruption [44]. Other common problems include the energy-intensive or complex nature of farming, difficulties in obtaining inputs, high cost, lack of space, soil pollution, lack of guidelines and information, and adverse effects on farmers’ health. Less frequently cited were the obstacles posed by urban regulations.

The answers “It takes a lot of time”, “The climate is bad”, and “The difficulty of obtaining inputs” are more located in the center and north periphery of the city. “There’s not much space or land”, which is located more in the city’s center and slightly on the coast, exclusively hosts the response, “City regulations prevent it”. “It’s too much energy, it’s too difficult”, “The land is polluted”, and “It’s expensive” are relatively distributed across all of the zones studied.

• Diseases caused by agricultural activity in Greater Lomé

A total of 197 out of 203 respondents answered this question with comments. The most frequently mentioned illness was “muscular, bone or ligament problems due to position in the field”, with 170 responses. Malaria was also frequently mentioned, followed by “poor health in general” due to the Sun. Eye pain caused by chemicals and “stomachache or diarrhea after consuming products from the field” were also mentioned, albeit less frequently.

Urban farmers in the north and center of the city often cite “Muscle, bone or ligament problems due to fieldwork” and poor health in general. Eye aches caused by chemicals and stomach aches or diarrhea after eating produce from the field were often cited in the peripheral north. Farmers in the city center cited malaria much more frequently. Overall, the coast was less of a concern to urban farmers who, in their opinion, experience illnesses caused by the practice of UA.

3.1.3. UA’s Impacts on Health

The results present a breakdown of the health impacts of UA, distinguishing between two primary groups: consumers and producers. According to experts, consumers are more significantly impacted due to risks associated with food safety, such as contamination from pollutants, pesticides, or untreated wastewater, alongside the nutritional benefits of consuming UA products. Ensuring proper regulations and monitoring could mitigate these risks.

For producers, the health impacts are linked to occupational hazards, including physical strain, exposure to extreme weather, and handling agrochemicals without protective equipment. Mental health challenges from economic pressures were also noted. Experts highlighted the need for tailored interventions, such as improving food safety for consumers and providing protective gear and training for producers, to maximize the benefits of UA while minimizing risks.

3.1.4. Impact on Health

When asked to name the advantages and disadvantages of practicing UA, 100% believed that the impacts are positive. Ten of the experts suggested that UA also presents dangers, with the eleventh not knowing the answer regarding negative impacts. However, it is notable that almost all of the experts believed that UA has both positive and negative sides.

3.1.5. Advantages and Disadvantages of UA Practice

• Advantages:

Figure 2 shows that the experts were almost unanimous in their belief that UA brings high and equal value, environmental balance to the ecosystem, job creation and well-being to producers and their consumer customers, and better food security in terms of quantity and quality. They also argued that UA promotes lower production costs with regard to food transport, storage, packaging, and other logistical parameters than what is produced and shipped from rural areas.

• Disadvantages:

The 11 experts cited health risks related to UA food consumption as the main threat (Figure 3). Three experts mentioned urban disruption, land conflicts, and insecurity, followed by insecurity caused by thieves and animals. Lastly, health risks for producers and environmental pollution were mentioned.

The results show a breakdown of dwellers targeted by health impacts according to health type, distinguishing between physical and mental health.

Analysis of the graph above (Figure 3) reveals positive and negative impacts on physical health, with 11 experts in each category. On the other hand, as far as mental health is concerned, the impacts are mainly positive, with seven experts supporting this, while no expert mentioned any harmful impact in this category.

3.2. UA and Health in Policies

3.2.1. Has UA Been Considered in the Planning Documents Cited?

Seven of the eleven experts interviewed affirmed that UA has been explicitly considered in the urban planning documents analyzed. These participants highlighted various mentions of UA within the documents, particularly in relation to its potential for contributing to food security, land-use efficiency, and environmental sustainability in urban contexts. However, three participants expressed the opposite view, stating that UA has not been adequately addressed or prioritized in the planning documents. According to them, any references to UA were either vague or insufficiently integrated into actionable strategies or policies. One participant, meanwhile, admitted uncertainty, stating that they were not sure whether UA had been considered or not, reflecting a potential lack of clarity or communication around the topic in the documents. These differing perspectives underline a disconnect in how UA is perceived and its role in urban planning, suggesting the need for more explicit and consistent integration in future policy frameworks.

3.2.2. Legal Framework

The results illustrate the legality and legitimacy of the legal framework governing UA, according to the 11 experts. The responses indicate, on the one hand, a significant number of experts declaring that they do not know whether or not UA is legally practiced in Greater Lomé, and on the other hand, that a large majority find the practice of this activity to be legitimate. However, UA is practiced on urban soil, which is supposed to be the primary focus of these experts.

3.2.3. Land Security

In their responses, all of the experts emphasized that UA plays an important role in preserving undeveloped land for potential future real estate development. They explained that by utilizing land for agricultural purposes, individuals and communities are effectively securing land tenure, as the practice establishes a form of temporary, yet functional, occupation. This strategy not only helps to protect these spaces from immediate urbanization or speculative land acquisition but also provides a degree of control over land use, particularly in areas where formal property rights are weak or contested. Experts highlighted that this dual function of UA—serving as both a productive activity and a land preservation mechanism—illustrates its strategic importance in urban settings where competition for land is intense. This insight suggests that UA is not only an agricultural practice but also a tool for navigating socio-economic and political challenges in rapidly growing urban environments.

3.2.4. The Explicit vs. Latent Dialectic

Table 1. The explicit vs. implicit dialectic.

Themes	Explicit	Latent
Gender of farmers used by experts during interview	The experts mainly and exclusively used male farmer pronouns in their interviews, with no female pronouns mentioned.	Unless they simply use the generic masculine default, one might conclude from their assertions that urban farmers are all men.
Temporality	Most participants did not express their thoughts on this element, while those who responded indicated that spaces can be temporary, permanent, or both.	According to their latent conceptualization, UA is timeless in Greater Lomé.
Nature of spaces	On this point, this message from one of the experts particularly caught the researchers’ attention and inspired the question: “In reality, for me, in the theme where we make urban parks, where we make urban gardens to make urban gardens, it has no life. …The advantage of having urban agriculture or a vegetable garden on the city scale is to attribute life to the thing”.	Therefore, this part of the study assesses the latent concepts expressed by experts as to whether spaces hosting UA are considered to be living/spontaneous or dead/useless. Through the exchanges, it was discovered that all of the experts considered the spaces to be living and spontaneous, with none of the participants considering them to be dead or useless.
Scope	Regarding the extent of urban fields, all participants indicated that spaces can be broad and interstitial.	According to their latent conceptualization, UA can have any surface size in Greater Lomé.
Open space or built and to be built?	All participants pointed out that the spaces are open and capable of being built on.	According to their latent conceptualization, the spaces hosting UA in Greater Lomé have no clear land status.
The health benefits of integrating UA into planning documents	The answers to this question were unequivocal. All of the experts agreed that UA should be systematically integrated into urban planning documents. Here is an illustration based on the first sentences of the 11 experts’ answers.	The result is that UA is essential to the urban health of Greater Lomé.

delves into the findings from interviews with experts regarding UA in Greater Lomé, examining several key themes: the gender perceptions of farmers, temporality, the nature of urban agricultural spaces, their scope, their potential for development, and the health benefits of integrating UA into urban planning.

3.3. Content Analysis of the SDAU and CDS Volume I and II for Greater Lomé

3.3.1. The Planning Document “Urban Planning and Development Master Plan (SDAU) of Greater Lomé”

From the list of UA-related terms and the number of times they appear in the SDAU, the word “agricultural” appears most often, with 48 mentions, followed by “agriculture” with 25 and “water” with 14. Specific terms such as “UA/peri-urban agriculture” are mentioned ten times.

3.3.2. The Planning Document “Urban Development Strategy for Greater Lomé ‘CDS Greater Lomé’, Volume I”

In the list of target words related to UA and the number of occurrences in CDS I, the term “agriculture” appears most frequently in this list, with 31 occurrences. Other words associated with agriculture, such as “Agricole” and “maraîchage/maraîcher”, (“market gardening”) are also frequently mentioned, indicating a significant concentration on agricultural themes in the document analyzed.

3.3.3. The Planning Document “Urban Development Strategy for Greater Lomé ‘CDS’, Volume II”

• In the CDS II search, the occurrences of the targeted words related to agriculture can be summarized as follows. “Agricultural” is mentioned most frequently, with 35 occurrences. “Water” follows, with 26 mentions, underlining its importance in agriculture. “Agriculture” appears 19 times, indicating that it is a central topic. Agriculture-specific terms such as “culture”, “couverture”, “maraîcher”, and “pays an” are also frequently cited. “Alimentaire/agroalimentaire” (“Food/agri-food”) is mentioned 11 times.

3.3.4. Number of Times the Word “Health” Is Mentioned in Planning Documents

Figure 4 shows the frequency with which the term “Health” is mentioned in various urban planning documents: the Urban Development Master Plan (SDAU), the Social Development Contract I (CDS I), and the Social Development Contract II (CDS II). The term “Health” appears in isolation 16 times in the SDAU, 51 times in the CDS I, and 87 times in the CDS II. However, in none of these documents is the word “Health” mentioned in direct connection with UA, suggesting that, although a frequent topic in urban planning, health is not explicitly associated with UA in these plans.

4. Discussion

UA has been studied extensively in African contexts over the past three decades, with numerous studies highlighting its multifaceted role in food security, income generation, and urban resilience [23,45,46]. One commonality across the literature is the economic importance of UA as a livelihood strategy for urban dwellers, particularly for low-income groups [47]. However, differences emerge in the challenges that urban farmers face depending on the local context.

The findings align with these studies in highlighting challenges such as limited access to clean water and financial constraints, but they also reveal distinct nuances in Greater Lomé. For example, the farmers in the study frequently cited difficulties related to time and energy investment, which are less prominently discussed in the broader literature. This suggests that, while the overarching challenges in UA may be similar, socio-economic and cultural contexts significantly shape the specific experiences of urban farmers. Incorporating these localized insights can contribute to more tailored policy interventions for UA in African cities.

4.1. Comparison Between What Expert Perceptions of Farmers’ General Problems and Health Concerns Related to UA, and Urban Farmers’ Realities

The differences between experts’ perceptions and urban farmers’ reported challenges are significant, particularly regarding the day-to-day obstacles and health-related concerns specific to UA. Among the 11 experts surveyed, 45.5% identified land speculation causing land loss as a primary challenge. This was followed by a lack of drinking water and climate change, each cited by 36.4% of experts, as well as a lack of knowledge of best practices (27.3%) and a lack of government support (36.4%). Other challenges mentioned by fewer experts included financing requirements (18.2%), high fertilizer prices (9.1%), psychological impacts (9.1%), and chronic diseases (9.1%).

In contrast, urban farmers themselves reported different priorities. Over 60% of the farmers identified the time investment required for UA as their primary concern. This was followed by lower sales volumes, climate regulations, the energy-intensive or complex nature of farming, and difficulties in obtaining inputs. These findings highlight a disconnect between the challenges perceived by experts and those experienced by urban farmers, particularly in terms of health-related and operational issues.

As for impacts directly linked to their health, the farmers cited muscular, bone, or ligament problems due to their position in the field, along with malaria [48], poor health in general due to the Sun, and sore eyes caused by chemicals [43,49,50].

The comparison between expert perceptions and the lived reality of urban farmers highlights a significant gap in understanding of the day-to-day challenges and health concerns specific to UA [51]. This divergence highlights a notable distance between decision-makers—often urban planners or experts in the field—and urban farmers, who are directly impacted by these policies.

While relevant, the issues arising from expert perceptions of urban farmers’ needs seem to focus on macroeconomic and environmental issues, potentially neglecting farmers’ more immediate and personal day-to-day challenges [52]. The responses from urban farmers reveal that these concerns focus more on the practical and immediate aspects of UA, reflecting the day-to-day challenges and impacts on farmers’ personal and economic lives.

The distance between the decision-maker and the objects of their decisions is a fundamental aspect to consider when analyzing UA policies. This distance can be interpreted as the difference between the vision conveyed by UA policies and the reality experienced by the actors involved [53]. This raises the question of which vision emerges from UA policies and which are excluded.

4.1.1. Vision of UA Policies

The vision that emerges from UA policies appears to prioritize broad environmental and sustainable development goals. While such a global framework is essential for addressing overarching issues, it may overlook urban farmers’ immediate needs and health concerns [54]. This disconnect could result in policies that focus on long-term benefits for middle-class consumers rather than offering concrete solutions to the everyday challenges faced by urban farmers [55].

4.1.2. Policy Exclusions

UA policies risk overlooking the diverse realities of urban farmers by failing to account for the complexity of their experiences and challenges. While policies are designed to provide broad frameworks, a lack of consideration for these nuanced perspectives can result in marginalizing certain groups or neglecting key issues.

It is essential to assess what vision emerges from UA policies, who benefits from them, and which groups might be excluded or marginalized [56]. This analysis suggests a more inclusive and holistic approach to formulating UA policies, considering macroeconomic and environmental perspectives and urban farmers’ day-to-day and health realities [57].

4.2. Mixed Impacts and Typology of Health Issues Raised

4.2.1. Mixed Impacts

The experts recognized both positive and negative impacts of UA, as evidenced by the literature review, which highlights benefits such as food security and urban greening alongside challenges including land-use conflicts and environmental degradation. This underscores the importance of conducting in-depth research to better understand the nuanced effects of UA, which can vary significantly depending on local contexts, agricultural practices, and development policies.

The experts stressed the importance of conducting in-depth research on this subject. This need stems from the complexity of the effects of UA, which can vary according to local contexts, agricultural practices, and development policies.

This fact represents an opportunity to develop new research methodologies, deepen the understanding of urban food systems, and identify innovative solutions to promote sustainable and inclusive UA; for urban populations, it offers the chance to gain the benefits of UA. Thus, investing in comprehensive research on UA represents a decisive step towards maximizing its benefits while minimizing its negative impacts, thereby contributing to more sustainable and equitable urban development [58].

4.2.2. Typology of Health Problems

All of the experts mentioned consumer health risks as a significant point of vigilance, including contamination of agricultural produce by urban pollutants, pesticide use, and other dietary risk factors [59,60,61]. The impacts on physical health were judged to be both positive and negative, focusing on the direct consequences of UA on the physical health of the individuals concerned, whether producers or consumers. In terms of mental health, the impacts were mostly considered to be positive, reflecting the benefits of UA on psychological well-being through a sense of accomplishment, stress reduction, and connection with nature [62,63]. The experts highlighted no negative impacts on mental health, suggesting a broadly favorable perception of UA from this angle.

This analysis highlights a generally positive perception of UA among experts, recognizing its environmental, economic, and psychological contributions. However, emphasizing health risks for consumers calls for careful regulation and implementing safe farming practices to guarantee food safety [64]. This detail highlights the need to balance UA’s development and public health protection, underlining the importance of adopting integrated and sustainable approaches to planning and managing agriculture in urban areas [65].

4.3. Multivariate Analysis and Complementary Qualitative Studies

More complex statistical techniques, such as multivariate analysis, could examine the interactions between several socio-demographic and occupational variables, along with their impact on perceptions of UA [66].

Quantitative analysis could be combined with qualitative methods to gain deeper insights into the reasons behind experts’ perceptions, as well as how their professional background and experience influence these perceptions [67].

4.4. Content Analysis

This part of the study provides a critical overview of the place of UA and urban health in urban planning. The use of terms such as “livestock”, “crop”, “drainage”, and “primary sector” in these documents suggests an acknowledgment of agriculture and its various components. However, their presence alone does not necessarily indicate the prioritization of agriculture in urban planning. However, specific concepts such as “UA/peri-urban agriculture” are mentioned only a few times in CDS Vol I and II, which may suggest that although this subject is recognized, it is not the document’s focus. “Alimentaire/agroalimentaire” (“Food/agri-food”) is mentioned 11 times in CDS Vol I, which may indicate an interest in the food chain and food safety.

Based on this analysis, the recommendation would be to strengthen the place and visibility of UA and peri-urban agriculture in urban planning documents and policies—particularly their integration into urban public health strategies [68]. Despite recognizing the importance of agriculture and its diverse components, the relatively weak mention of UA and peri-UA suggests that these aspects could be given greater prominence and integrated into urban planning. This would also be essential to put them into practice [69].

4.5. Limitations

A few limitations were identified in this study that may affect the interpretation of the results. This Section discusses these limitations and suggests ways to address them in future studies, in order to help plan future research on UA and its impacts.

4.5.1. Number of Experts

Although the sample reached information saturation, the limited number of experts (11) may limit the generalizability of the results and the diversity of the perspectives. It would be interesting to expand the sample in future studies to include various experts from different fields related to UA, urban planning, and public health.

4.5.2. Gender Imbalance

The uneven gender distribution of the expert interviewees may introduce bias into the results, as experiences and perceptions may vary according to gender. The study suggests that a more balanced gender distribution among participants be ensured in future studies, in order to capture a broader range of perspectives and experiences.

4.5.3. Using the Zoom 5.6.6 Tool

Regarding the use of the Zoom platform version 5.6.6 as the channel for gathering expert responses due to the periods of travel restrictions associated with COVID-19, remote communication can affect the quality of interactions, potentially limiting non-verbal exchanges and altering the authenticity of responses. It would be better, conditions permitting, to combine virtual interviews with face-to-face ones where possible, or to use face-to-face interviews only.

4.5.4. Prior Knowledge of the Questionnaire

The experts insisted on accessing the questionnaire before the interview for convenience reasons. This could have influenced their answers, making them less spontaneous and potentially biased. Limiting prior access to the questionnaire may encourage more authentic responses.

4.6. Recommendations

There are a few recommendations for the policy and practice of UA based on the ideas of experts and the reality of urban farmers.

4.6.1. Understanding and Bridging the Gap Between Politicians and Urban Farmers

Regular dialogue and forums are essential for urban farmers to express their challenges and needs in real time. Furthermore, policies need to be tailored to the immediate practical needs of urban farmers and adapted to realities on the ground, shifting the focus from macro-environmental issues to immediate practical needs, such as access to resources, while integrating health risk assessments.

4.6.2. Planning UA Sites Considering Surveys and Spatial Analyses

Spatial data collection is a valuable preliminary step before planning land for UA. Spatial planning with a view to homogeneous benefits ensures that the impact of UA is distributed equitably and benefits the whole community. The data underline the importance of conducting spatial analyses before considering UA planning. By identifying each area’s specificities and needs, decision-makers can develop targeted and practical strategies to support UA’s development.

4.6.3. Legal Frameworks and Complete Definitions

Advocacy is needed for legal reforms that support the rights of urban farmers, including access to land, water, and other essential resources. Clarifying the legal status of UA, e.g., by systematically integrating it into the building permit regulations, can provide security and encourage investment and growth in the sector. It is also crucial to reassess Western definitions of UA in Africa, promote definitions that resonate with local practices and values, and integrate traditional knowledge and community needs into urban planning and UA strategies.

4.6.4. Research and Planning Tools

Investing in research to explore the diverse impacts of UA and identify best practices for different urban contexts is an essential step that can represent a good investment. Encouraging experimental projects to guide policies and create adaptable models for different urban environments is also recommended. Furthermore, developing a standardized set or toolbox for UA planning that accommodates the diversity of urban agricultural practices is necessary for effective interdisciplinary collaboration between the various players in the sector.

5. Conclusions

Ultimately, this study sought to better understand the relationship between the dialectic of UA and health in Greater Lomé and the realities of practice. To this end, three main corpora were considered in this study: 11 experts (architects, urban planners, geographers, economists, and sociologists), a set of urban farmers, and a group of planning documents. This methodology enabled us to highlight the study problems within an original framework. The use of a wide range of data sources and mixed methods contributed to a more robust understanding of UA in Greater Lomé, highlighting the contrasting visions of the different discourses [31,70,71,72].

Regarding critical findings, the specialists presented a shared view of the effects of UA on health and the environment in Greater Lomé, suggesting that these impacts are varied. Their analysis of UA, particularly regarding health issues, seemed more casual, contrasting with other discussions that weighed risks and benefits, examined the transient nature of UA, and explored the tension between legal and informal practices. The survey suggests that the experts’ views may be biased by their socio-demographic and professional backgrounds; it also highlights the importance of involving diverse participants in the decision-making process for a more inclusive management of UA. Based on the various findings and discussions, recommendations can be made for improving the ecosystem of UA practice in Greater Lomé.

The first step is to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of standard guidelines. Given the diversity of perspectives and contexts influencing UA planning, it is essential to foster collaboration between experts and authorities, in order to develop a standard guide or toolbox for UA planning [73]. This approach should be complemented by in-depth research and experimentation to better understand local needs and develop strategies tailored to each context [74].

Another recommendation is recognizing and integrating local perspectives into UA planning [75]. The differences between Western definitions of UA and the perspectives of African planners highlight the importance of recognizing and integrating local knowledge and practices into UA policies. Adopting an inclusive approach that values local traditions is necessary while encouraging innovation and adaptation to African urban realities.

Next, it is suggested that, while employing spatial methods, further research be conducted into the impacts of UA [76] in the face of its mixed impacts on health. This research should explore the various aspects of UA, including its socio-economic, environmental, and cultural impacts, in order to identify best practices and solutions for maximizing its benefits while mitigating its adverse effects.

Finally, an inclusive approach to decision-making should be encouraged among urban planning experts. UA decision-making should, therefore, consider the diversity of actors involved, including urban farmers and consumers. It is essential to ensure that UA policies reflect the needs and interests of all groups concerned, and to promote a participatory and transparent approach in order to ensure fair and democratic decision-making. Future research could build on these perceptions revealed by the various corpora treated in this research, further investigating the empirical impacts of UA on health.

The main message of this study lies in the fact that there is a significant divergence between the perceptions of experts and the reality of urban farmers, underlining the need to re-examine and adapt UA theoretical frameworks and policies to better reflect and respond to the challenges and opportunities on the ground [77]. This fact highlights the importance of a holistic, reality-based approach to planning and supporting UA, emphasizing the need to integrate farmers’ voices into the decision-making process and recognize the diversity of this practice’s health impacts [78]. The achievements of this study pursue the goal of providing an empirical evidence base to bridge the gap between theory and practice in UA, contributing to the development of more inclusive and effective policies that take into account the needs and challenges of urban farmers, while also raising awareness about the complex health impacts of UA, encouraging safer and more sustainable practices, and encouraging critical reflection on the role of experts in modeling UA discourses and practices.