Urban Farm DB
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Gap spaceActiveSince 2018

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 loanInterim use

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)

Related cases

Kibera Vertical Sack Farming (Nairobi) — Urban Farm DB