Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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535 results(18 / 22)
An analysis of urban irrigation farming and its urban planning imiplication: case study of Katsina Urban area, Nigeria
2011MM Ruma · Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences · Nigeria
This paper examined wastewater reuse in urban farming in Katsina, Nigeria, by interviewing 130 households out of 276 registered with the Katsina Urban Planning Authority. It found that wastewater reuse in urban farming is a full-time, sole income source for many households and an indispensable activity for the town. Recommendations were provided for promoting and integrating this activity into local planning processes.
EconomicsPolicyPeri-urban agricultureCommunityPerformance of poverty alleviation projects in South Africa: The case of Vhembe Districtin Limpopo Province
2011M. Tshitangoni, A. Okorie, Joseph Francis · Scientific Research and Essays · South Africa
In Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa, the performance of 30 poverty alleviation projects (12 community gardens, 8 poultry, 2 piggery, 2 bakery, 6 other) was reviewed. Based on structured questionnaires with 108 respondents, project performance differed by type. All bakery projects were successful, poultry projects achieved 62% success, and community garden and other projects each achieved 33% success. In contrast, all piggery projects performed poorly.
Limited or null effectCommunityWelfareEconomicsAn investigation of urban agriculture projects as a local economic development mechanism to alleviate poverty in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
2011Phumelelo Edwin Khomo · · South Africa (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality)
An investigation was conducted into three urban agriculture projects in the townships of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa, examining their role as a local economic development mechanism for poverty alleviation. Five project participants from each project and three municipal officials responded to structured questionnaires. The study aimed to determine the projects' impact on participants' livelihoods, their role in employment creation, and participants' views on project sustainability.
EconomicsWelfareCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceGeochemical assessment, distribution, and dynamics of trace elements in urban agricultural soils under long‐term wastewater irrigation in Kano, northern Nigeria
2011Nafiu Abdu, John O. Agbenin, Andreas Buerkert · Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science · Nigeria (Kano)
A study evaluated the distribution and origin of trace elements (Ti, Fe, Nb, Pb, Rb, Sr, Y, and Zr) in five long-term wastewater-irrigated urban vegetable gardens in Kano, Nigeria. Surface soil concentrations of Ti, Fe, Pb, and Y were high compared to comparable soils elsewhere, but soil pollution assessment yielded no evidence of anthropogenic input of the studied trace elements. Enrichment factor, contamination factor, and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) revealed little to no contamination with trace elements.
HealthOrganic cycleRole of socioeconomic parameters in determining the efficacy of urban agriculture in providing food security in Birnin Kebbi metropolitan area, Kebbi State, north western Nigeria.
2011A. K. Ango, Aliyu Abdullahi, Bello Bunza Abubakar · International Research Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science · Nigeria (Birnin Kebbi)
A study in Birnin Kebbi metropolis, Nigeria, during the 2009/2010 cropping season surveyed 100 urban farmers across 10 districts. The study found that urban farmers cultivate food crops and rear animals, but identified low capital, lack of adequate funds, strict land-use regulations, and lack of agricultural inputs as major problems. Socio-economic status, family size, and education level were significantly related to participation in urban farming.
Economic viabilityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyCommunityClimate change, urban agriculture and water access: which adaptation strategies for better management of water resources; the case of truck farming in Benin
2011Bertrand Foe, Salou Zoulkilf · · Benin
A transverse case study conducted from January to June 2011 in Cotonou, Benin, with 50 truck farmers, investigated adaptation strategies for water access in urban agriculture. The study found that increased temperatures and irregular rains reduce available water, making truck farming difficult and painful. Despite increased working time, production decreased by about 50%, indicating a negative economic impact.
Economic viabilityClimate changeUrban–rural linkageEconomicsUrban agriculture in metropolitan Lagos: An inventory of potential land and water resources
2011Olugbenga I. Akinmoladun, O. T. Adejumo · Journal of Geography and Regional Planning · Nigeria (Lagos)
This research inventories potential land and water resources for urban agriculture in metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria, using secondary data from government agencies and primary field observations. The study found that Lagos metropolis requires 18 times its current size (3,577 km²) to sustainably feed its population. It identified 4,293 hectares of potential land and 28,890 hectares of potential water resources under federal, state, and private ownership.
EconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeLand quality, urban development and urban agriculture within the Cape Town urban edge
2011H.S. Geyer, Bennie Schloms, Danie du Plessis, Amanda van Eeden · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · South Africa (Cape Town)
An analysis of agricultural land consumption within the Cape Town urban edge between 2002 and 2007 revealed that low-density residential development is the primary consumer of high-potential agricultural land. Commercial, industrial, and informal residential developments had minimal impact on agricultural land loss. High-potential agricultural land is not adequately protected, and urban agriculture is constrained by competition with more profitable land uses like residential development.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageImpact of Climate on Urban Agriculture: Case Study of Ilorin City, Nigeria
2011Ajadi B.S., Adeniyi Adedapo, A. M. Tunde · Global Journal of Human-Social Science · Nigeria
This paper examined the impact of climate on urban agriculture in Ilorin city, Nigeria, by collecting 10 years of climatic data (rainfall, evaporation, relative humidity, temperature, sunshine hours) and agricultural data for rice, sorghum, maize, cowpea, and yam. Using multiple regression, trend analysis, and correlation techniques, the study found that the selected climatic parameters had a weak correlation with urban agriculture during the review period.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkageDeals with imaginaries and perspectives: reworking urban economies in Kinshasa
2011AbdouMaliq Simone · Social Dynamics · Africa
This essay explores urban economies in Kinshasa, focusing on how residents navigate complex livelihood strategies. It examines an important retail market, urban agriculture, and a superblock development, demonstrating that the economy in Kinshasa involves assembling disparate people and things into provisional bundles. The study suggests that the economy functions to keep the value of things open to new uses and sites, highlighting the need to appreciate the oscillations of value in impoverished urban districts.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceChapter 5DITWV -
2011Eric Antwi Ofosu · · Sub-Saharan Africa
The conditions that led to large public investment in irrigation in the second half of the 20th century have changed radically, requiring substantial shifts in irrigation strategies today. The mid-1980s saw the rapid development of shallow tubewells and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater in India and Pakistan due to affordable drilling and pumping technologies. Similarly, the 1990s witnessed a substantial rise in private irrigated peri-urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by increased demand for fresh fruits and vegetables from growing cities.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood security in Southern African cities
2011Jonathan Crush, Alice J. Hovorka, Daniel Tevera · Progress in Development Studies · Africa
This article examines the contemporary importance of household food production in poor urban communities across 11 Southern African Development Community (SADC) cities. It finds that urban food production is not particularly significant in most communities, with many more households relying on supermarkets and the informal sector for food access. Furthermore, few households derive income from selling produce, though the situation varies considerably by city.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsWelfareResults of stage 1: preliminary
2011N. Karanja, F. Yeudall, S. Mbugua, M. Njenga, G. Prain, D. C. Cole, A. L. Webb, D. Sellen, C. Gore, J. M. Levy · Urban agriculture · Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya (Nakuru))
This paper outlines the conception, design, and implementation process of a project aimed at strengthening technical, environmental, financial, and social capacity for urban agriculture (UA) among HIV-affected households in Nakuru, Kenya. Key lessons learned include the value of multi-stakeholder partnerships to address complex issues in urban social agriculture, the crucial role of self-help group organizations, and securing institutional commitments to support farming by HIV-affected individuals. The usefulness of mixed-methods evaluative tools for monitoring progress and identifying supports and barriers to success is also highlighted.
WelfareCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyOrganic gardeners uplift poor communities
2011Sarah Ward · · South Africa (Cape Town)
This article features an interview with Christina Kaba, who works for Abalimi, an urban agriculture and environmental action association operating in socio-economically neglected townships on the Cape Flats near Cape Town, South Africa. Kaba assists individuals, groups, and community-based organizations in initiating and maintaining permanent organic food growing and nature conservation projects, which serve as a basis for sustainable lifestyles, self-help job creation, poverty alleviation, and environmental renewal.
CommunityWelfareOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceSupermarket Expansion and the Informal Food Economy in Southern African Cities: Implications for Urban Food Security
2011Jonathan Crush, Bruce Frayne · Journal of Southern African Studies · Southern Africa
This article reviews urban food sources in Southern African cities, focusing on supermarket expansion, its impact on informal food suppliers, and the relative insignificance of urban agriculture for poor urban households. Findings from an eleven-city survey by AFSUN are presented, highlighting that urban agriculture has limited significance in addressing urban food insecurity in the region.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban–rural linkage‘More punitive penalties should be given to urban farmers’:
2011Romborah Simiyu, Dick Foeken · · Kenya
This chapter reviews national and Eldoret Municipal Council laws and policies related to Urban Agriculture (UA) in Eldoret town, Kenya. It assesses how these policies have shaped the livelihoods of urban farmers and the development of UA as a strategy for urban dwellers. The chapter also reflects on recent developments towards a more facilitative policy framework for UA at the national level.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCities feeding people: an update on urban agriculture in equatorial Africa
2010Diana Lee-Smith · Environment and Urbanization · Africa (Equatorial Africa)
This article reviews empirical data on urban agriculture in equatorial Africa, primarily East Africa and Cameroon, updating previous work. It quantifies the extent of urban agriculture, assesses its relationship to food security and poverty, and discusses its role in eco-cycles and policy-making efforts in three East African cities. The article concludes that urban agriculture is increasing, beneficial for health and poverty alleviation, but better-off households currently benefit more than poor households.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareOrganic cyclePolicyEconomicsFood security attainment role of urban agriculture: a case study from Adama town, central Ethiopia.
2010Messay Mulugeta Tefera · Journal of sustainable development in Africa · Ethiopia (Adama)
This study assessed the role of urban agriculture in attaining urban food security for smallholders in Adama town, central Ethiopia. Findings confirmed that urban agriculture plays a significant role in urban household food security. Over 40% of the surveyed households obtained well over the nationally set minimum dietary energy requirement solely from their urban farmlands.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban–rural linkageUrban Agriculture Community Gardens and Elderly Food Security in Nairobi, Kenya: Health Outcomes and Social Support Analysis
2010Wycliffe Cherono Nyaga · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Kenya (Nairobi)
This study in Nairobi, Kenya, investigated the impact of urban agriculture community gardens on elderly food security, health outcomes, and social support. Surveys and interviews with participants in four gardens revealed a significant improvement in dietary variety (p < 0.05) among elderly residents, with a 25% average increase in vegetable intake. Social support networks within and outside the gardens were also crucial for health maintenance.
CommunityElderlyFood sovereignty & justiceHealthReuse of wastewater in urban farming and urban planning implications in Katsina metropolis, Nigeria
2010Mohammed Murtala Ruma, Abdullahi Usman Sheikh · African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology · Nigeria (Katsina)
This paper investigated the status of wastewater reuse in urban farming in Katsina, Nigeria, by interviewing 120 households out of 250 registered with the Katsina Urban Planning Authority. It was found that wastewater reuse in urban farming is a full-time, sole income earner for many households and is indispensable for this semi-arid city. However, the urban planning process has not officially recognized or given attention to this important activity.
Governance failureEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageIntegrated Urban Micro Farming Strategy Mitigation against Food Crises in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria
2010P.B. Abdulsalam-Saghir, A.O Oshijo · Journal of Agricultural Extension · Nigeria
This study evaluated integrated urban micro farming in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria, using data from 80 randomly selected urban and peri-urban farmers. Findings showed that 62% engaged in integrated farming, 60% experienced food crises, and major causes included rapid rural/urban migration (37%), inadequate credit facilities (26%), and high land lease rates for city development (11%). The study concluded that urban micro farming serves as a buffer for providing food to urban populations.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureVegetable box scheme in Cape Town, South Africa.
2010Femke Hoekstra, Rob Small · Urban Agriculture Magazine · South Africa
Abalimi Bezekhaya, a civil society organization in Cape Town, South Africa, has worked for 28 years with small-scale producers, primarily unemployed women, in Khayelitsha, Nyanga, and surrounding townships. These micro-farmers engage in home and community gardening to supplement their diet, improve household food and nutritional security, and generate sustainable income. The initiative also fosters community building, personal growth, and self-esteem among participants.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareEconomicsAssessment of challenges facing poverty alleviation projects in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province in South Africa
2010M. Tshitangoni, A. Okorie, Joseph Francis · Scientific Research and Essays · South Africa (Limpopo Province)
A study conducted in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa, assessed challenges faced by 30 poverty alleviation projects (community gardens, poultry, etc.). A survey of 108 beneficiaries identified numerous inception-based challenges, such as lack of training (90%), lack of funds (80%), and fraudulent use of funds (33%), as well as operation-based challenges like poor record keeping (70%) and unavailability of markets (60%). These challenges were found to significantly limit the performance of the poverty alleviation projects.
Economic viabilityCommunityWelfareEconomicsSchool farming for school feeding: experiences from Nakuru, Kenya
2010Dick Foeken, Samuel Owuor, Alice Mwangi · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Kenya (Nakuru)
This paper examined school farming in Nakuru town, Kenya, focusing on current practice, its contribution to school feeding programs, and the challenges it faces. Based on a survey conducted in almost all primary and secondary schools in Nakuru, it shows that school farming and school feeding are common practices in the town. In many cases, school farming contributes to school feeding programs.
Food educationWelfareCommunityUrban School Farming to Improve School Feeding: The Case of Nakuru Town, Kenya
2010Dick Foeken, Samuel Owuor, Alice Mwangi · Children Youth and Environments · Kenya
A survey was conducted in almost all primary and secondary schools in Nakuru Town, Kenya, to examine the extent to which school farming contributes to school feeding programs. The survey found that while school farming and feeding programs are common practice, school farming substantially contributes to school feeding programs in relatively few cases.
Limited or null effectFood educationWelfareEconomics