Opuntia ficus-indica as a strategic food resource for urban agriculture in Tropical Countries

Urbanization and poverty have brought to worse life conditions in towns of many developing Countries, including difficult availability of food, especially fresh. Urban agriculture and horticulture can contribute to the availability of fresh foods, officinal and medicinal plants, but the little availability of irrigation and surface to destine for cropping suggest the convenience of little water consuming species, with little needs of soil fertility and that can be eaten entirely. Opuntia fiscus indica corresponds at all these requirements, and it is a very promising strategic species that can be eaten completely (green parts, fruits and even flowers), it has good nutritional values and also interesting medical properties. A trial has been done to compare the initial productivity of cladodes multiplied in pots, car tires and open field. Our results suggest that the prickly pear can be cropped better in large exhausted tires than in small plots also saving money for the materials, we propose also its use for green fences instead of other toxic plants frequently used.