Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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235 results(2 / 10)
Knowledge and Perception on the Usage of Greywater for Backyard Cultivation of Native Herbs Among Residents of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan, Nigeria
2025Mumuni Adejumo · Journal of Health and Environmental Research · Nigeria (Ibadan)
This cross-sectional study surveyed 312 residents in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Nigeria, to document their knowledge and perception of using greywater for backyard cultivation of native herbs. The findings revealed that 70.7% of participants had poor knowledge about greywater and its use for cultivating local herbs, and 61% held a negative perception. Only 8% of participants reported having used greywater in their residence, with 70.8% of public servants specifically showing negative perceptions.
DIYHealthCommunityGrowing together: unveiling the potential of school-based community gardens to foster well-being, empowerment, and sustainability
2025Tinashe P. Kanosvamhira · Urban Transformations · South Africa (Cape Town)
This qualitative study investigated 13 school-based community gardens in low-income townships on the Cape Flats of Cape Town, South Africa, using semi-structured interviews. It found that while these gardens can enhance food security, nutrition, and community development, most urban community gardens in South Africa face significant challenges related to land tenure rights, often requiring negotiation for school land use. The research highlights both the advantages and the challenges of utilizing school land for community gardens.
Governance failureCommunityFood educationHealthPolicyThe Role of Urban Planning in Strengthening Urban Food Security in Africa: Insights from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa
2025Leemisa Simon Matooane, Abraham R. Matamanda, Johannes Bhanye, Verna Nel · Urban Forum · Africa
This paper examines how urban planning affects food security in Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The analysis identifies common challenges in urban food systems, including urban agriculture integration, food distribution, spatial inequalities, and collaborative governance. Findings suggest that proactive, innovative urban planning tailored to socio-economic contexts can significantly enhance food security.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsCultivating communities: Understanding motivations in urban gardening among low-income residents in Cape Town, South Africa
2025Tinashe P. Kanosvamhira · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · South Africa (Cape Town)
This study investigated the motivations for urban gardening among low-income residents in Cape Town's Cape Flats, South Africa, using survey data from 97 participants and interviews across 34 community gardens. While 29 out of 34 gardens prioritized income generation, a tension was found between institutional economic objectives and individual gardeners' motivations. Although 76.3% cited economic reasons, all respondents also valued social, health, and environmental benefits, perceiving gardening as a means to enhance well-being and promote sustainable practices despite structural barriers.
CommunityHealthEconomicsPolicyThe Impact of Agricultural Extension Agents on Urban Gardening Practices in Confined Spaces and Focusing on Vegetable Crop Cultivation in Growth Media in Delta State, Nigeria
2025M. Elusaiwe, K. Atusa, Kanya Hilary · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Nigeria
This study investigated the efficiency of agricultural extension agents in promoting urban gardening among 250 respondents in 10 urban areas across two local government areas in Delta State, Nigeria. Findings revealed that most urban farmers, predominantly female civil servants, married women, or widows, were not visited by extension agents, nor were they encouraged to use growth media or form agricultural societies.
Governance failureWelfareCommunityFood educationDIYAnalyzing the prospects and hurdles of urban agriculture an examination of economic landscapes and versatile approaches in Ethiopia
2025Mohammed Adem Ali, B. Lilly Grace Eunice · Discover Sustainability · Ethiopia
Urban agriculture in Ethiopia is a vital livelihood strategy, contributing to employment, income, and food security. Despite its significant contributions to GDP and urban employment, its potential is insufficiently utilized due to structural obstacles. These hurdles include restricted access to land and water, deficient regulatory frameworks, poor institutional support, social stigma, and environmental risks, and it is insufficiently acknowledged in urban development strategies.
Governance failureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicyCommunityAVALIAÇÃO DE PROCEDIMENTOS QUE GARANTAM A ADVOCACIA NA PERSPECTIVA DOS SISTEMAS ALIMENTARES, POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS, LOGÍSTICA ALIMENTAR E RESILIÊNCIA URBANA NA CIDADE DE QUELIMANE-2025
2025Moçambique MANI TESE, Franscisco Monteiro Chimote, Paulo Xavier Tebulo · Revista fisio&terapia. · Mozambique
A study conducted in Quelimane, Mozambique, analyzed the procedures and challenges for ensuring advocacy for sustainable food systems. The research highlighted institutional fragmentation, the absence of urban agriculture regulation, and precarious logistics as critical obstacles. While community micro-strategies and urban gardens were identified as potential catalysts for transformation, the study concluded that strengthening local governance and multi-sectoral mobilization are fundamental.
Governance failurePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityClimate changeThe Langa Agri-Food Hub in Cape Town, South Africa
2025Natalia Urrego Díaz, Astrid Ley, Kurt Ackermann, Leonie K. Fischer · · South Africa (Cape Town)
This study focuses on the Langa Agri-Food Hub in Cape Town, South Africa. The Hub is an innovation-seeking project aimed at transforming the local food system from the bottom up, supporting farmers, and strengthening the community. Through a literature review and qualitative analysis, including site observations, interviews, and workshops, the study uncovered the Hub's potential to serve as a vital platform for individual empowerment and the strengthening of the local food system.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsClimate changeThe effect of Ethiopia's land certification program on rural and peri-urban farmers' land tenure security; evidence from Tigray
2025Tesfay, Hailay, Machethe, Charles · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Ethiopia (Tigray)
This paper examines the effect of Ethiopia's land certification program on the land tenure security of rural and peri-urban farming households in the Tigray region. Analyzing cross-sectional data from 500 respondents using logistic regression, the study showed that the program's effect is significantly influenced by the geographic location of farm households. The program produced better results for rural farmers than for peri-urban farmers, with certified households in rural areas being less likely to experience a change in their land tenure (less secure land tenure) compared to certified farmers in peri-urban areas.
Governance failurePeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsCommunityImplications of Land Ownership Heterogeneity on Household Food Security: A Case Study of Urban Farming in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Province
2025Joyce Thamaga-Chitja, Nthabeleng Tamako, Temitope O. Ojo · Land · South Africa (Pietermaritzburg)
In Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, the impact of land ownership on household food security among 156 urban farmers was analyzed. The majority of surveyed households experienced mild food insecurity, with a smaller proportion facing moderate insecurity. Land ownership was found to significantly reduce household food insecurity by 50%. Monthly income, age, and cooperative membership positively influenced land ownership likelihood, while gender and distance to market had negative impacts.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityRecreational Community Gardens: a Study on Their Role In Promoting Well-being and Social Cohesion Among Housing Estate Residents In Fct Abuja
2025Ebimorboere endoni, Ibrahim Umar, Patrick Chukwuemeke Uwajeh, Timothy Onosahwo Iyendo, olawepo ibidolapo · Nile Journal of Engineering and Applied Science · Nigeria
This research investigates the role of community recreational gardens in fostering social cohesion among residents in urban housing estates in FCT Abuja, Nigeria, using a mixed-methods approach including surveys, interviews, and observational studies. Key findings indicate that community recreational gardens serve as inclusive environments, promoting cross-generational interactions, cultural exchange, and the formation of social networks in housing estates.
CommunityHealthPolicyChallenges and Opportunities of Urban Agriculture in Major Towns Practicing Urban Agriculture in Ethiopia: A Review
2025Etefa Tilahun Ashine · International Journal of Agricultural Economics · Ethiopia
This review examines the challenges and opportunities of urban agriculture in Ethiopia, where urbanization and living costs are rising. Key challenges include limited access to land, irrigation water, and financial institutions, as well as high prices for fertilizers and pesticides, and climate variability affecting crop yields. Opportunities include strong market demand for products, employment creation for youth and women, and additional income generation for producers. The study concludes that stronger policy support and investment are needed to enhance urban agriculture's contribution.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCommunityUrban–rural linkageRooftop Agriculture in the Urban Global South: The Experience of Johannesburg
2025Jayne M. Rogerson · Modern Geográfia · South Africa (Johannesburg)
This article examines the organization and current state of rooftop agriculture in Johannesburg, South Africa, drawing on existing material. Johannesburg hosts the largest cluster of rooftop farms, primarily established for social considerations, with fewer projects for commercial reasons or business image enhancement. The study investigates the challenges confronting these rooftop farming projects.
Governance failureCommunityEconomicsPolicyUrban Farming Practices and Constraints to Urban Agriculture in Bauchi Metropolis
2025Yusuf Kamaluddeen Ibrahim, Zabawi Abdul Ghani, Rasheed Osuolale Oladosu, O. D. Idris,, Tamwesigire Caleb · Journal of Innovative Research · Nigeria (Bauchi)
In Bauchi metropolis, Nigeria, urban farming practices and constraints were investigated among 285 urban farmers. Findings revealed that most farmers do not own land, instead borrowing or renting it. The major constraints to urban agriculture were reported as lack of tenure security, limited land area, and poor access to microcredit facilities.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityPolicyThe Role of Urban Farming in Enhancing Food Security and Sustainability in Lagos Metropolis: A Stakeholder Analysis
2025S Aliyu, Okhimamhe A. A, I. M. Sule · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science · Nigeria (Lagos)
This study explored the role of urban farming in enhancing food security and sustainability in the Lagos Metropolis through focus group discussions and quantitative surveys with various stakeholders, including policymakers, urban farmers, and community members. Findings suggest urban farming's potential to reduce food transportation distances, enhance local food production, and mitigate climate change impacts. However, challenges such as land demands and gender disparities persist, necessitating integrated policy approaches and targeted educational programs.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeCommunityPolicySustaining Urban Food Gardens for Community Resilience: A Case Study of the Langa Agrihub, Cape Town, South Africa
2025Kurt Ackermann, Tamsin Faragher · CABI climate change series. · South Africa (Cape Town)
A three-year case study of the Langa Agrihub in Cape Town, South Africa, supports a network of over 250 urban farmers comprising more than 30 food gardens. The Agrihub provides inputs, infrastructure, knowledge exchange, and market connections, serving as a platform for civic participation, social cohesion, and local agency. This chapter states that the primary value of community food gardens lies in enabling communities to mitigate and adapt to intersecting stresses, including economic marginalisation, environmental degradation, and infrastructure shortcomings like water scarcity.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsWelfarePeri-urbanization and smallholder farmers’ socio-economic marginality in peri-urban Addis Ababa
2025Girma Mulu Alemu, Sophie Schramm, Wilbard Kombe · Cogent Social Sciences · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)
This qualitative study in peri-urban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, explored the impacts of peri-urbanization on smallholder farmers' socio-economic conditions. The research found that peri-urbanization leads to the erosion of capital assets, with dwindling agricultural land causing tenure insecurity and disrupting livelihoods. This process exacerbates smallholder farmers' marginality by weakening social ties and mutual support systems.
Equity & displacementPeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEffect of Forced Eviction and Land Grabs on Household Economic Capital Security of Displaced Pre-Urban Farmers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2025Kejela Gnamura, Michael Akwasi Antwi, A Belete · Land · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)
This mixed-methods study investigated the effects of urbanization-induced displacement on economic capital security by comparing 223 evicted and 223 non-evicted peri-urban farming households in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Logistic regression and thematic content analysis revealed that evicted households are approximately 72.7% less likely to achieve economic security compared to non-evicted households. The study concluded significant differences in household economic capital security between the two groups.
Equity & displacementPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsPolicyCommunityWelfareUrban Agriculture's 'Invisible' Short Food Value Chain: How Small-scale Farming Contributes to Johannesburg Food Security
2024· Urban Forum · South Africa
Documents how small-scale urban farming through short food value chains in Johannesburg functions as an 'invisible' economy not captured in official statistics. Direct community sales reduce middlemen while improving farmer incomes and local food security. Highlights gaps in statistical and policy frameworks.
EconomicsCommunityThe institutionalisation of urban community gardens in Cape Town, South Africa
2024Kanosvamhira T. P. · Area · South Africa (Cape Town)
Analyses how the state institutionalises Cape Town's community gardens along neoliberal lines. Argues state support cultivates neoliberal subjectivities and regulates production, diminishing the gardens' potential to advance food justice in historically disadvantaged communities.
PolicyCommunityUrban agriculture and women's empowerment: an analysis based on female producers in the Talangaï market gardening belt in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo)
2024Abdias Rodias Paul Ngalekoua · Advanced Research in Economics and Business Strategy Journal · Africa
This study investigated the impact of urban agriculture on the empowerment of female vegetable growers in Talangaï's 6th district, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. A qualitative and quantitative survey was conducted with 105 selected households through semi-structured interviews. The findings confirmed that vegetable growing acts as a vector for empowerment and improves producers' living conditions, contributing to poverty and unemployment reduction, and positively impacting their social and economic spheres.
WelfareEconomicsCommunityExploring the Association of Urban Agricultural Practices with Farmers’ Psychosocial Well-Being in Dar es Salaam and Greater Lomé: A Perceptual Study
2024Akuto Akpedze Konou, Kossiwa Zinsou-Klassou, Victoria M. Mwakalinga, Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka, Armel Firmin Kemajou Mbianda, Jérôme Chenal · Sustainability · Africa
This perceptual study surveyed 733 urban farmers in Dar es Salaam and Greater Lomé to explore the psychosocial effects of urban agriculture on their well-being. Using the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form and bespoke questionnaires, the research found significant variations in urban agriculture-related happiness across city zones, with peripheral farmers reporting greater satisfaction than urban counterparts. Female farmers also reported higher levels of happiness.
HealthWelfareCommunityPolicyCan Agroecology Close the Health Disparities Gap for Urban Vulnerable Communities in South Africa?
2024Michael Rudolph, Evans Muchesa · Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir landbouvoorligting/South African journal of agricultural extension · South Africa (Johannesburg)
This article explores the potential of agroecology to address health disparities in urban communities in South Africa, where approximately 34% of Johannesburg households face food insecurity. A transdisciplinary literature review, using secondary data from the University of Johannesburg and Siyakhana Growth and Development, posits that an agroecological approach can effectively address food and nutrition insecurity. The study emphasizes the importance of localized food production, personalized training, and a supportive policy framework for urban farming and agroecology.
HealthFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareCommunityUrban agriculture for environmentally just cities: the case of urban community gardens in Cape Town, South Africa
2024Tinashe P. Kanosvamhira, Mohamed Deen Shade · Local Environment · South Africa (Cape Town)
This study examined how 34 urban community gardens in low-income neighborhoods of Cape Town, South Africa, contribute to environmental justice using a mixed-methods approach including remote sensing, interviews, and observations. Findings revealed an unequal distribution of green spaces between wealthier and less affluent neighborhoods. While current gardening benefits may not be widespread, the gardens offer advantages such as environmental education, promotion of agro-ecological practices, and land use for green purposes.
CommunityHealthClimate changePolicyImpacts of Urban Agriculture on Environment: In Case of Tora town, Silte Zone, Central Ethiopia.
2024Fedila Chumgicho · National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia · Ethiopia
This descriptive study assessed the impacts of urban agriculture on the environment in Tora town, Silte Zone, Central Ethiopia, using a mixed-methods approach with 204 systematically selected samples and 10 purposively selected key informants. Findings revealed that 41.2% of urban residential households were engaged in farming. The study underscored positive impacts such as sustainable waste management, organic waste utilization, and the adoption of sustainable agricultural techniques, while also identifying challenges like water-related issues and sustainable waste disposal.
CommunityClimate changeBiodiversity