Abstract:
The presented dissertation analyses the development of agricultural uses in urban centres and
the possibilities of their integration in territorial planning and urban management as a strategy
for sustainable urban development having, as a case study, the City of Maputo. Urban
agriculture can play a multifunctional role in improving quality of life, reducing poverty,
promoting sustainability and increasing social justice in urban areas. Maputo City faces
significant challenges such as rapid population growth, urban poverty and food insecurity, in
addition to disorderly urban sprawl in areas unsuitable for housing and other uses considered
"urban". Territorial planning is fundamental to achieve urban objectives and prevent and
mitigate existing problems. The methodology used in the dissertation was based on an
exploratory approach, with bibliographic and documentary analysis, complemented by
geotechnologies to assess the dynamics of land use and occupation in segments of the city
territory. Development scenarios were developed through a prospective study. The dissertation
results indicated that, although agriculture is often associated with the countryside, urban
agricultural practice is a reality in Maputo, being used by various social segments to meet food
needs and increase family income. However, the current agricultural use is often considered by
land use right holders as areas prone to changing activities, going against the guidelines of the
Urban Structure Plan of the Maputo Municipality (PEUMM), which protects these areas.
Measures considered crucial for the sustainable development of the territory were proposed,
such as the rehabilitation of green and agricultural production areas, the conservation of the
municipal ecological structure, the valorization of products from urban agriculture and the
integration and continuity of urban agriculture. These measures can contribute to the increase
of sustainability, social justice and quality of life in the city of Maputo.
