Kibera Vertical Sack Farming (Nairobi)
Nairobi, Kenya · Operator: Community groups with NGO support
Overview
Sack farming method in Kibera: filling sacks with soil and organic waste, then vertically stacking them on rooftops, balconies, and fences to grow leafy vegetables. Over 1,000 residents have adopted this approach with NGO and government support, serving as a grassroots food security solution.
Citizen participation
Over 1,000 residents across Kibera villages with support from local NGOs and government programs; rooftop, balcony, and fence-based cultivation
Operating model
Resident-led subsistence agriculture with focus on social impact and household food security
Impact
Mitigates chronic hunger and food insecurity in Nairobi's informal settlements; enables household food security through vertical production on limited space.
Land tenure
Free use of informal settlement land (vulnerable to eviction)
Crops
- kale
- spinach
- amaranth
- leafy greens
Scale
1,000+ residents across Kibera villages adopted sack farming
Sources(2)
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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