Urban Agriculture as a source of economic sustainance (original) (raw)
As cities expand and develop there is an increasing concern for a sustainable growth which is marked by real income growth, equitable income distribution among citizens and minimal environmental degradation—the so called sustainable urban development. Zimbabwe and many other developing countries have been characterized with rapid urban growth, unemployment, poor service deliveries, inequitable income distribution, escalating urban poverty, pollution and other forms of land degradation—a development that is clearly unsustainable. Urban agriculture is one of the strategies that potentially can contribute towards sustainable urban development, albeit it is little recognized. This study, based on 150 urban households in Epworth, Harare, gives a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the contribution of urban agriculture to sustainable urban development in the context of social inclusion, increasing household income and food access and availability. The major findings were that urban agriculture positively contributes to social inclusion, household income and also food access and availability. Urban agriculture had the largest proportions of the old-aged, female headed, singles or divorced, widowed, lowly educated and informally employed households with higher dependency ratios and household sizes. The practice contributed 74 percent of household income (US$820) and saved US$12.69 on weekly consumption from subsistence in season. Maize grain harvests averagely lasted 4.14 months. The study also shows that urban agriculture increases seasonal consumption of beans, peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkin fruit and leaves. The study concludes by appreciating the role of UA in ensuring food security and social inclusion as a step towards sustainable urban development and recommends the need for increasing access to land by the poor households to improve their livelihoods, market and enterprise development and real gross domestic product at large.
Urban Horticulture for Food Security and Livelihood Restoration in Mutare City, Eastern Zimbabwe
Greener Journal of Social Sciences, 2016
Caritas International Zimbabwe implemented a food security restoration project targeting 1,000 vulnerable households in Mutare urban, eastern Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study were to determine whether targeted households were able to improve household income from sale of horticultural produce and to assess if these households were improving their household dietary diversity. Data were collected from a random sample of 100 household heads through interviews in December 2014. Desk reviews of Mutare urban food security project reports (baseline and end line surveys) were done. Results show that the urban horticulture project improved household income of about 70% (n = 70) of the targeted households by then. By December 2014 household food consumption score (FCS) among the project targeted households had improved beyond FCS > 35 as compared to baseline status. Mutare urban farmers were coached to practice market oriented horticulture production to enjoy both a diversified diet themselves and to sell to the market, through which they were getting a net profit of at least US$80/month per household. We conclude that the Mutare urban horticulture project improved food and nutrition security and restore livelihoods for the targeted poor urban dwellers as at December 2014. Such market-led horticulture project formulation is a worthy feasibility studies for options for replication in related project area context which could be proposed.
Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 1996
The growing of crops on open and undeveloped spaces within urban zones in eastern and southern African cities has become an important source of food security. Urban populations have expanded without a corresponding increase in economic opportunities for employment. Economic reforms have led to the removal of subsidies on food commodities and retrenchments in the formal employment sectors. It is reported that a result of this is that vulnerable households have resorted to urban agriculture to sustain their livelihoods. Though a widespread practice, urban agriculture is not planned for or supported by urban planners and managers as a legitimate form of urban land use in Harare, Zimbabwe. As women are the main participants in urban agriculture, their activities come into direct conflict with planning provisions for urban space. This study examines the role of women in urban agriculture and views and perceptions of the use of urban space for agricultural activities in Harare. It shows that urban agriculture is useful in meeting household food needs by those who undertake it. The study offers empirical insight on the perceptions of the use of space in an urban tropical environment for agriculture, where conflicts can arise as a result of different perceptions and alternative uses.
Urban Poverty and Urban Agriculture: An Overview of the Linkages in Harare
The urban poor throughout most of Africa have experienced increasing difficulties over recent years as a result of the imposition of structural adjustment programmes. One of the main coping mechanisms has been increased self-help in satisfying basic household needs. Food is one of these basic needs and urban agriculture, both legal and illegal, has grown as a consequence of the difficult economic climate. As yet relatively few studies have attempted to assess the role that urban agriculture plays or might play in social and environmental terms. This paper reviews the situation in Harare, Zimbabwe as the contextual setting for an on-going investigation of these two important considerations, placing the present policy responses in their appropriate historical and economic framework, and assessing the research issues which need to be addressed.
Urban Agriculture and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) in Zimbabwe
nternatiInternational Journal of Development and Sustainability, 2023
This paper explored the efficacy of urban farming in alleviating hunger in Chitungwiza Municipality, Zimbabwe. This study adopted the Sustainable livelihood approach because heads of households use available resources and assets in their community to embark on urban farming. This study is important because limited studies have researched the effectiveness of urban farming in ending hunger in food-insecure households in Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach was employed, with focus group discussions and interviews as data collection methods. The same consisted of 36 participants (heads of households, social welfare officials, and municipal officials) who were purposively selected for this study. The key findings are that urban farmers are growing crops such as maize, sweet potatoes and vegetables produced and others are engaged in animal husbandry such as keeping chickens, goats, and birds. The above farming outputs are for household consumption, and the surplus is sold to increase household income. Furthermore, the sampled participants revealed that they face economic and social challenges that hinder their sustainable livelihoods. The recommendations drawn from the findings were provided to the Chitungwiza Municipality and Department of Social Development.
The food security environment nexus in urban agriculture in Harare
2008
Perceptions about urban agriculture in Zimbabwe have changed significantly since 1980. Before independence urban agriculture was generally prohibited. In Harare minor concessions were made in relation to land set aside for migrant labour. The main reason for the prohibition was fear o f environmental degradation. After independ ence, land was set aside for a few co-operatives in the cap ital city, mostly as a means to gamer political support (Mbiba, 1995). For example, in the 1980s the City Council, at the behest o f central government, gave land to co-operatives in some residential areas. During this time, a tension existed between the promotion o f urban agriculture for political patronage and its discouragement for more altruistic reasons relating to protection o f the environment (Mushayavanhu, 2003). In time, urban agriculture became de facto government policy due to increasing urban pover ty. It is estimated that between 1995 and 2001 incomes in Harare decreased by 28% (Zim...
Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research, 2009
The global food crisis is a real observable fact the world over and it is likely to remain with us if unsustainable food production methods are not in place. The food crisis is regarded as a serious number one problem the world over hence the need for its sustainable production is found under Target 1 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Food shortage and extreme poverty have not spared Zimbabwe of late due to recurring droughts and very high inflation of 2006-2008. This study investigated how two different urban communities, the urban poor in high density suburbs of Mabvuku-Tafara and the urban rich in the low density suburbs of Mabelreign, Madborough and Westgate, attempted to solve the food crisis. The urban poor were found doing seasonal farming in the urban periphery (off yard plots) and their farming wa? often inorganic, less paying and often exposed to the vagaries of nature. Tr.e low density urban 'farmers’often practiced on-plots perennial farming with ‘green...
An Assessment on Factors Affecting Urban Vegetable Production in Harare, Zimbabwe
Urban agriculture has become increasingly important to the residents of Zimbabwe's cities. We conducted a survey on the factors affecting urban vegetable production in Harare, Zimbabwe. Our goal was to assess the characteristics of Zimbabwe's participants in urban agriculture and the effectiveness of NGO and government initiatives promoting urban agriculture so as to assist poverty alleviation policy makers. Data was gathered from the archives of 10 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Stepwise multiple linear regression model and K-means cluster were used to analyze the data gathered. Results showed that income, home ownership, sex, age, and market as a primary source of vegetables significantly affect residents' likelihood to participate in urban vegetable production. In the case of urban youth, it was found that this group is not likely to participate in urban vegetable production, even though they are the intended beneficiaries of many NGO programs promoting the activity. In addition, it was found that non-homeowners are not participating in urban vegetable production even though this is a low income group that could benefit from participation.
The Role of Urban Agriculture in Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability in Africa
Journal of Natural Sciences Research
The role of urban agriculture in socioeconomic and environmental sustainability in Africa was reviewed in this seminar. The main objective of this paper was to reveal the role of urban agriculture in socioeconomic and environmental sustainability in Africa. Different theoretical and empirical literatures conducted by most scholars were rectified that the benefits of urban agriculture is unarguable issue. Many scholars argue that urban agriculture played a paramount significant role in job creation, in access to balanced diet, in access to fresh milk, vegetables and fruit for urban dwellers. Urban agriculture is also part of the urban greenery that improves the urban micro-climate, increases biological diversity, as well as the aesthetics and recreational functions of urban areas. But there were still some other scholars that urban agriculture has negative externalities on metropolitan. According to theories and empirical studies, not easy access to land, lack of experience, lack of financial support, grazing of crops by animals and theft of farm products, low land productivity, lack of training, access to credit facilities and high interest rates were identified as the potential challenges for the development of urban agriculture. As a result of the numerous importance of this sector government and other non-government should initiate programmes in support of urban agriculture in order to overcome the aforementioned problems.
2015
This article assesses the contribution of urban agriculture to food and nutritional security for local citizens in Epworth, Harare the capital city of Zimbabwe.Thestudy is guided by the hypothesis that urban agriculture practices have a positive impact on households’ food and nutrition security. Data employed in this study were drawn both from primary and secondary sources. The questionnaire was the major primary data collection tool. Secondary data were drawn from a comprehensive review of literature using reports, articles, books and conference papers.The study employs the Food Consumption Score (FCS) and the Household Dietary Diversity Index (HDDI) as proxy indicators of food consumption and they are also quantitative indicators of food insecurity. Using the FCS the study found that participation in urban agriculture significantly closes the gap between the poor and the more affluent citizens particularly increasing the quantities of beans, tubers, legumes and vegetables consumed...