Research & reports

Crippina Lubeka, Judith Kimiywe, Hudson Nyambaka · Research Journal of Food Science and Nutrition · Kenya (Makueni County)

This study assessed the effect of school garden interventions on improving serum zinc, iron, and retinol levels, and diet diversity, among pre-school children in Mulala ward, Makueni County, Kenya. A quasi-experimental design was adopted with 63 children, where intervention early childhood centers provided vegetables and animal proteins from school gardens for six months. Post-intervention, a significant difference was found in the mean dietary diversity score between the intervention and control groups, and a significant positive correlation was observed between serum hemoglobin, retinol, zinc levels, and dietary diversity in the intervention population.

Brittany Kesselman, Mvuselelo Ngcoya, Daniela Casale · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · South Africa

This paper, based on research from two urban gardens in Johannesburg, South Africa, argues that contemporary urban dietary norms pose a challenge to urban agroecology. The dietary norms and practices of Johannesburg residents are poorly aligned with the production requirements and outputs of urban agroecology. Lessons from other countries suggest that the benefits of agroecology could be enhanced by targeting changes in food preparation and consumption practices.

Sileshi Azagew, Hailu Worku · ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH · Ethiopia (Addis-Ababa)

This study assessed the status, accessibility, and constraints of urban green infrastructure (UGI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It revealed that UGI land use decreased by 9.2% from 2003 to 2016, with urban agriculture declining by 11.9%. City residents lack sufficient recreational UGI, with park per capita at a very small 0.37 m² compared to Ethiopian standards of 15 m², and over 90% of the population lacking access to existing parks within walking distance. Major constraints identified include weak implementation of development plans, density, built-up area expansion, and lack of priority for UGI development.

Amélie Robert, Jean Louis Yengué, A. Fanny, Mikael Motelica‐Heino, Edmond Hien, Alain Sanou · Risco Revista de Pesquisa em Arquitetura e Urbanismo (Online) · Africa

This research, conducted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, utilized in situ observations, interviews with farmers and decision-makers, and an analysis of planning documents. It found that urban agriculture has experienced a significant increase in surface area and is popular among city residents. However, it is not officially considered in urban planning, revealing divergences in viewpoints between farmers and public decision-makers.

Derek Du Bruyn, Marietjie Oelofse · New Contree · South Africa (Bloemfontein)

This article investigates the Bloemfontein Municipality's efforts to establish Batho, a new location for black and coloured people (ca. 1918-1939), as a 'garden location' within the historical context of British-style urban planning and racist, segregationist policies. Initiatives included securing water supply, allocating allotment gardens, providing a fresh-produce market, and planting trees. While some motivations were aesthetic, others were deeply rooted in segregationist ideology. The article critically assesses whether these attempts to create a garden location were 'successful'.

Eliana Camargo Nino, Sam R. Lane, Kanako Okano, Irvanu Rahman, Bo Peng, Hannah Benn, Christina Culwick Fatti, Gillian Maree, Samkelisiwe Khanyile, Carla-Leanne Washbourne · Occasional paper · South Africa

This paper aimed to understand urban agriculture within the green infrastructure network in the City of Johannesburg, South Africa, and identify ecosystem services delivered by maintaining and investing in these assets. A multi-method approach was used to identify interlinkages between urban agriculture and social, economic, and environmental systems, validate them with stakeholder input, and visualize them through spatial analysis of food gardens. Urban agriculture was shown to enhance food security, provide economic opportunities, and strengthen ecosystem services such as climate change mitigation and disaster resilience.

Reuben Nwoye Okechi, Edna Ifeoma Chukwura, Christian Okechukwu Nweke · Journal of Advances in Microbiology · Nigeria (Owerri)

This study, conducted in Owerri, Nigeria from June to December 2019, evaluated the interactive toxic effects of ternary mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and divalent metals on Serratia marcescens (SerEW01) from the Otamiri River, a source for urban farming. The study found that both concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) models predicted lower toxicities compared to experimentally observed data. The Toxic Index and Model Deviation Ratio indicated a synergistic interaction of SDS and metal ions, resulting in higher combined toxicities than predicted, posing environmental hazards due to co-contamination.

Hadji Wabe Nure, Abdulkadir Hussein Gemada, Gamachu Gishe Badasa, Bezabih Wondimu, Burash Elemo Gaduda · OALib · Ethiopia

A study in Bishan Guracha Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, analyzed the determinants of urban agriculture and its implication for poverty reduction. A convergent parallel mixed design was utilized, involving 228 households from fishery, milk, and animal fattening micro and small enterprises. The findings indicated that about 40% of urban agricultural practitioners fell below the poverty line, and there were statistically significant differences among the income generated from the three types of urban agriculture.

Isaac Otieno Dawo, George Mark Onyango, Francis Ang’awa Okere · The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies · Kenya

This study investigated the influence of planning policy frameworks on urban agriculture practices in Eldoret, Kakamega, and Kisumu towns in Western Kenya. A cross-sectional survey of 205 urban farmers found that the economic influence of urban planning legislation declined, social influence increased only in Kakakamega, and environmental influence doubled in all towns. Newly enacted urban planning legislations had no major influence on the planning, promotion, and regulation of urban agriculture, though a significant low positive correlation with urban agriculture practice was observed.

Amsalu Woldie Yalew · Regional Economic Development Research · Ethiopia

This paper provides an overview of urban agriculture in Ethiopia, synthesizing existing evidence on its role in the overall agricultural sector, urban economy, and urban employment, based on official reports and statistical surveys. Despite scant evidence, urban agriculture shows considerable contributions. However, the review reveals existing gaps in institutional and policy support for urban agriculture.

Mengist Belay · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · Ethiopia

This study, focusing on Debre Markos Town and surrounding districts in the East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, establishes that Urban Agriculture is a multipronged tool for adaptation and mitigation to tackle climate change. It is concluded to be an effective tool to address food security challenges in cities, educate and reconnect urban and peri-urban farms and people to assure food and climate security in the cities.

Hillary A. Craddock, Elisabeth Fost Maring, Stephanie Grutzmacher · African Journal of Food Agriculture Nutrition and Development · Ethiopia

A mixed-methods pilot survey of 21 teachers and parents in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, investigated household agricultural practices to understand foodborne illness risks. The study found that half of respondents using manure applied uncomposted manure as fertilizer, and many kept multiple animal species. This suggests a high risk of pathogen exposure for children and adults through contact with uncomposted manure and animals.

Murtah Shannon, Kei Otsuki, Annelies Zoomers, Mayke Kaag · Urban Studies · Mozambique (Beira)

This article examines the implications of global interventionism in African cities for existing claims to urban space, particularly those of farmers, using Beira, Mozambique, as a case study. A historical-political analysis demonstrates that urban farming has been a distinct feature of Beira's urbanism amidst successive and contradictory state-land regimes. A new urban regime, formed by municipal leaders and international donors, aims to erase urban agriculture from the city through urban 'development', indicating a need for better understanding of manifold claims to urban space beyond slum urbanism.

F. Waswa, M. Mwamburi, I. I. C. Wakindiki, Roseline Chemutai · Journal of applied science and environmental management · Kenya

This study focused on soil physicochemical properties and fertility management in Ruiru Sub County, a peri-urban area in Kiambu County, Kenya. Soil samples from ten small contact farms (~0.1 ha) were analyzed, revealing that most farmers were tenants growing leafy vegetables, maintaining soil fertility with organic manures, and performing tillage by hand. These practices signal limitations imposed by small farm size and lack of land ownership, with soil fertility primarily limited by the interaction of soil pH, K, and Ca.

Mary Njoki Mwaura, Sabina Wangia, Japheth Ododa Origa, Lee Ernest Mbatia Oliver · Journal of Agricultural Extension · Kenya (Nairobi)

This study investigated the influence of urban extension workers' socio-economic characteristics on farmer empowerment in Nairobi County, Kenya, using data from 64 extension workers. While extension workers' characteristics positively influenced the choice of extension methods, explaining 37.2% of farmer empowerment, a significant finding was that 49.9% of extension workers were unaware of adult learning principles (ALPs). The study recommends training extension workers in ALPs and ICT techniques to improve extension methods.

Oso Adeola Abiola · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · South Africa

This review discusses vegetable production in South Africa, focusing on the impacts of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) on small-scale farming communities. The review highlights that these nematodes are a primary pest, causing delayed crop maturity, reduced yields, poor quality produce, and escalating production costs. This leads to substantial income losses for farmers and the abandonment of community gardens, intensifying challenges for vegetable production and food security.

Muuta Ibrahim, Mohammed Haruna, U Shaibu · Asian Journal of Economics Business and Accounting · Nigeria

This study analyzed household participation in urban agriculture in Kogi State, Nigeria, using a simple random sample of 240 respondents (60 from each of four urban centers). It found that education and access to sufficient food negatively influenced participation, while dependent status, marital status, employment status, and access to land positively influenced it. Both urban farm income and non-farm income significantly affected total household income, leading to the conclusion that urban agriculture has the potential to improve urban dwellers' livelihoods.

Sara E. Benjamin‐Neelon, Tiange Liu, Eve S. Puffer, Liz Turner, Daniel A. Zaltz, Andrew Thorne‐Lyman, Sherryl Broverman · Current Developments in Nutrition · Kenya

This natural experiment in rural Kenya evaluated whether school gardens improved dietary diversity in children. Gardens were installed in two primary schools, with two comparison schools, and dietary intake was measured for 855 children in 2013 and 688 in 2014. All children's dietary diversity scores worsened post-intervention, likely due to a severe drought in 2014. Although some differences were observed in specific food groups, these could not be attributed to the school gardens.

Abraham Tessema Handalo · Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development · Ethiopia

A study using cross-sectional data from a sample of 176 households in Hossana Town, southern Ethiopia, analysing households' participation in urban agriculture and its effect on household welfare, using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and propensity score matching. Results show that participation in urban agriculture was higher among older and female-headed households and was associated with higher nonfarm earnings compared with non-participation, a difference significant at the 5% level; participating households had significantly fewer family members and significantly lower access to credit, extension services, and improved inputs than non-participants, and participation was also associated with smaller land ownership and lower access to water, both significant at 5%. The binary logistic regression indicated that access to credit, extension services, improved inputs, household size, and access to water (aside from income from other sources) significantly enhanced participation in urban agriculture, while the propensity score matching model showed a significant positive impact of urban agriculture on poverty reduction, measured via consumption expenditure per adult equivalent and per capita asset building. The study concludes that urban agriculture is constrained mainly by access to credit, extension services, improved inputs, household size, and non-farm income.

Achamyeleh Gashu Adam · IntechOpen eBooks · Ethiopia

A case-study and desk-review analysis of how new urban built-up properties form in the transitional peri-urban areas of Ethiopia. These areas are described as sites of intense competition between agricultural and non-agricultural land use, where rural agricultural land rights are vanishing. The study finds that both formal and informal actors play a significant role in converting peri-urban agricultural land into non-agricultural urban built-up property, and that these properties result from land-use conversion through both formal and informal channels.

Jacques L du Plessis, Ashley J Knox, HE Jacobs · Water SA · South Africa

Using spatial data on 1,813 gated-community homes across different regions of South Africa, this study quantitatively evaluated garden footprint area as a percentage of total plot area. Analyzing data from 11 gated communities, it found the average garden footprint to be 36% of total plot area. Homes with a garden area under 100 m² showed limited influence on monthly water consumption, while water use in homes with a larger garden footprint increased proportionally with garden size, and seasonal fluctuations in water use reflected garden irrigation and other outdoor water use.

Aurillia Manjella, Alessandra Grasso, Victor W. Wasike · · Africa

A report on the Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition project in Busia county, western Kenya, describes school gardens that supply or complement school feeding programmes as a practice for mobilizing biodiversity and improving dietary diversity among schoolchildren. Kenya is said to have more than 200 African leafy vegetables (ALVs), and the project gives children opportunities to acquire agricultural skills focused on cultivating nutrient-rich ALVs; the report notes that school gardening has long been part of education in Kenya, especially in rural areas dating to colonial times.

Naudé Malan · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · South Africa

A reflective essay revisits iZindaba Zokudla (IZ), a multistakeholder engagement project in Johannesburg, South Africa, aiming to create opportunities for urban agriculture within a sustainable food system. IZ runs the Farmers' Lab, a social lab used as a transitional mechanism toward sustainability, and the essay argues that significant stakeholder integration is needed to move South Africa's urban food system toward ecological soundness, economic productivity and social equity. It details the project's history from 2013 to the present, its creation of a social-lab-based ecosystem, the applied research opportunities it has generated at universities, and the resulting changes to agroecological practice in Johannesburg.

Mahteme Feleke Debela · Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development · Ethiopia

A descriptive survey with qualitative data examined the role of urban agriculture (bio-intensive gardening, backyard poultry keeping, and sheep rearing/fattening) in the livelihoods of the urban poor in Hawassa City, Ethiopia. 76% of respondents gained additional income, 51.4% used it as a food source, and 29% found employment through it. Reported challenges included lack of credit services, absence of supporting technology, shortages of feed/treatment/inputs, and poor market access and storage facilities.

Dorothée Boccanfuso, Marie-Ève Yergeau · Cahiers de recherche · Africa

This study presents a diagnostic assessment of the urban and peri-urban agriculture (AUP) sector in Mali, based on a literature review and individual interviews with stakeholders in Bamako, forming the first stage of a research project intended to measure AUP's impact on poverty and food security. The literature review found that few studies measure AUP's impact, that existing results are mixed and inconsistent, and that there is a lack of solid evidence on the topic. The Bamako interviews surfaced the sector's economic, social, and environmental issues in the Malian context and confirmed, from key stakeholders, the relevance and necessity of the planned research project.