Research & reports

Getinet, Abate · National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia · Ethiopia

A mixed-methods, cross-sectional descriptive study of urban agriculture in Gulele sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, examining perceptions, opportunities, and challenges. It combined a survey of employees and farmers, in-depth interviews with farmers, key informants, and experts, and a focus group discussion with civil service employees. The study identified scarcity of urban farmland, scarcity of water for irrigating vegetables, and constraints on various agricultural inputs as core problems, alongside market accessibility issues for selling produce and limited transportation availability, even as vegetable consumption and demand among urban dwellers were rising and government policy treated urban agriculture as a current priority. It also found a negative social attitude among urban dwellers toward urban agriculture, who regard it as old-fashioned work and view urban farmers as backward and uneducated. The study concludes that the Addis Ababa City Administration's urban agriculture development sector needs to work with research institutions to address pest and insect problems and to improve vegetable yield per unit of land.

Baltazar M.L. Namwata · African Quarterly Social Science Review · Africa

A cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling across 15 neighborhoods (mitaa) in eight wards of Dodoma City, Tanzania, examined types, spatial distribution and gender dynamics of urban agriculture among 300 urban farmers in squatter and non-squatter settlements, using structured questionnaires, focus groups, key informant interviews and field observation. Crop-only farming was the most common of the observed typologies (crop-only, mixed, and livestock-only), with homestead farming linked to more informal cultivation on floodplains and government land in violation of land-use policy. Men dominated farming decision-making overall, though a trend toward joint and female-headed farming emerged among female-headed households, and squatter and non-squatter areas differed in tenure security, rule enforcement and infrastructure access.

Verheyden, Johan G.L. · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Africa

This literature review examines the intersection of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in the Great Lakes region of Africa — Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo — a region undergoing rapid urbanization amid growing climate change vulnerability. It examines how CSA practices such as agroforestry, composting, water-efficient irrigation, and resilient crop varieties are being adopted and adapted within diverse UPA systems, synthesizes evidence on their impacts on food security, nutrition, environmental sustainability and socio-economic wellbeing, and analyzes the governance, policy and institutional factors enabling or constraining uptake. The review identifies critical research gaps, including the need for long-term impact assessments, locally adapted CSA strategies, effective governance models, and a better understanding of land tenure and nutritional outcomes, and outlines future research directions and policy recommendations with particular attention to Kenya's evolving urban landscape and devolution framework.

· Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems, Wiley Online Library · Sub-Saharan Africa

2024 analysis of urban farming systems and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Examines role of agriculture in improving urban food security, necessity of public-private partnerships, informal sector positioning, and prospects for addressing urban food insecurity in Africa.

Kiribou et al. · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Africa

2024 research analyzing urban farming systems' role in sub-Saharan African food security, income generation, and employment creation, examining environmental, economic, and social benefits.

· 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.

· International Journal of Agricultural Economics · Nigeria (Southwestern)

Analyzes the factors driving adoption of urban agriculture among households in southwestern Nigeria and its effect on household food security.

Kanosvamhira 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.

Okonkwo, E., Mensah, J., Gessesse, A., Okoro, N. · African Journal of Agricultural Research · Africa

Survey of 3,500 small-scale farmers across 8 Sub-Saharan African countries. Farmer field schools increase technology adoption to 48% versus 12% without training.

Adeyemi, F., Mwangi, L., Okafor, B., Mutua, S. · World Development · Africa

Study of 1,200 women farmers across 6 Sub-Saharan countries. Women completing extension training increase productivity 40-60% and earn 35-50% higher incomes.

Gizaw Ebissa, Hayal Desta, Aramde Fetene · Heliyon · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

A 2024 project-based appraisal of urban tomato farming in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, using net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR). With the cost of water included the venture returns a negative NPV of −US$30,100 per hectare per year, an IRR of 0.2%, a BCR of 0.83 and a payback period beyond ten years; excluding water costs it turns positive (NPV +US$15,100/ha/yr, IRR 21%, BCR 1.02, payback 2.9 years). Production cost is US$0.60/kg with water and US$0.45/kg without, against an average selling price of US$0.47/kg, so the venture does not pay for itself as long as water must be bought. Sensitivity analysis shows returns rise with price and yield and fall with operating costs. The authors treat better market access, agro-processing and cooperative formation as preconditions for viability.

Mr. Gedeno Gemeda Negash · Journal of Production Operations Management and Economics · Ethiopia

An explanatory study in Karat town, Konso, Ethiopia, examined factors affecting the performance of 185 micro and small-scale enterprises across various sectors, including urban agriculture. Using questionnaires and analyzing data with correlation and multiple regression, the study found a positive and significant relationship between most independent variables and enterprise performance. However, the effect of access to infrastructure on performance was positive but insignificant.

E. A. Ajah, EB Etowa, EB Effa, UI Ofem, HE Iso, OI Ettah, IA Asuquo · African Journal of Food Agriculture Nutrition and Development · Nigeria (Calabar)

This study analyzed the effect of credit on the poverty status of 110 randomly sampled roasted plantain vendors in Calabar, Nigeria. Findings showed that 60% of vendors were female, with an average age of 35 and an average household size of four. Poverty incidence was lower among credit recipients (64.5% of vendors) at 0.268, compared to non-recipients at 0.487. Credit access and household size were found to have statistically significant associations with the poverty index.

Ashagrie Gibtan, Wondwosen Abera, Mekuria Delelegn, Molla Maru, Adamu Emiru · Ochrana prírody Slovenska/Ekológia · Ethiopia

Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) dynamics were analyzed in four Ethiopian cities—Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Bahir Dar, and Adama—over 17 years from 2006 to 2022. SPOT 5 and Sentinel satellite imagery, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were used. Findings revealed a rapid expansion of urban built-up areas, primarily at the expense of peri-urban horticultural lands, which has an adverse impact on the sustainability of urban agriculture.

Goshu Desalegn, Anita Tangl, Mária Fekete‐Farkas, Girma Gudisa, Anita Boros · Heliyon · Ethiopia

A study of micro and small enterprises in Ethiopia showed that government policies and regulations have an insignificant direct effect on urban agriculture. However, sustainable finance plays an important mediating role between urban agriculture and government policies, indicating that the impact of government policies and regulations on urban agriculture is indirect.

Tsegay Kahsay Gebrekidan, Gebremariam Gebrezgabher Gebremedhin, Abraha Kahsay Weldemariam, Meaza Kidane Teferi · Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association · Ethiopia

A systematic review of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Ethiopia found a generation rate of 0.38 kg/ca/day, with waste predominantly composed of food waste, ash, dust, sand, and yard waste. Over 85% of this waste is reusable or recyclable, with 73.13% being organic matter. Despite suitability for composting and biogas, challenges include a lack of political will, weak municipal planning, and inadequate infrastructure, resulting in only 31.8% of MSW being legally collected.

Nolwazi Z. Khumalo, Melusi Sibanda, Lelethu Mdoda · Sustainability · Sub-Saharan Africa

A systematic review and bibliometric analysis examined the implications of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices and climate adaptation strategies for food and income security in urban Sub-Saharan Africa. The review found that CSA practices boost urban food production and income, but also recognized critical challenges and trade-offs requiring urban agriculture transformation.

Teófilo Etelvino do Amaral, Carlitos Luí­s Sitoie · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Mozambique (Maxixe)

A school garden project was implemented at Escola Secundaria 29 de Setembro da Maxixe in Mozambique, integrating it into the geography curriculum. Research found that geography teachers only taught theoretical content, lacked practical understanding of the geographical relationship with local agricultural production, and did not value food from home gardens. Students and their parents also had no knowledge of vegetable gardens and preferred processed foods, which exacerbated hunger when they lacked money. The school garden was suggested as a means to produce healthy food and generate family income.

Ayodele O. Adelana · LAUTECH Journal of Engineering and Technology · Nigeria

This research quantified urban soil infiltration rates at 88 locations in Akure metropolis, southwest Nigeria, and assessed the effectiveness of Horton and Green-Ampt infiltration models. While Akure's urban soils showed high infiltration rates, both models poorly compared to measured rates, consistently underestimating urban soil infiltration. The models' largely below-average performance suggested that projections from them are less reliable for urban soils.

Jeffrey Chiwuikem Chiaka, Gengyuan Liu, Hui Li, Wen Zhang, Mingwan Wu, Zhaoman Huo, F. Gonella · Environmental and Sustainability Indicators · Sub-Saharan Africa

This study evaluated land cover change and its drivers using spatial and statistical analysis in 22 designated protected areas (PAs) across the tropical coastal regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Results indicated that food production is prevalent in these protected areas regardless of their designation, and forest loss occurred in most PAs, suggesting weak conservation. Population density was the most significant driver of land cover change, and only 15 out of 22 protected areas showed an increase in their total ecosystem service value.

Abdias 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.

Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu, Reinfried Mansberger, Moges Wubet Shita, Derjew Fentie Nurie, Ayelech Kidie Mengesha · Land · Ethiopia

This study in the East Gojjam Administrative Zone, Ethiopia, examined factors affecting land rental transactions using data from 353 household heads affected by expropriation. 58% of respondents participated in both renting and renting out land. 60% of female-headed households engaged in land rental transactions (14% renting in, 46% renting out), while 38% of male-headed households rented land (19% renting out). Sex, landholding size, number of oxen, participation in off-farm activities, and extension service were identified as significant determinants. Oral agreements and sharecropping were the most prevalent transaction methods.

Abraham Woru Borku, Abera Uncha Utallo, Thomas Toma Tora · Discover Food · Ethiopia

A mixed-methods study in selected towns in Southern Ethiopia surveyed 310 households to identify determinants of urban household vulnerability to food insecurity. The results indicated that 41.3% of households were highly vulnerable, 48.3% moderately vulnerable, and 10.6% not vulnerable. Significant determinants included household ownership of houses, health status, urban agriculture, socio-cultural practices, asset ownership, age, and average monthly income.

Akuto 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.

Michael 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.