Research & reports

Kwaku Obosu-Mensah · · Africa

This historical account argues that urban agriculture existing in African cities prior to colonization has been overlooked, despite African towns having been fundamentally agrarian, unlike their Western European counterparts, and that colonial authorities discouraged and cracked down on urban farming even as food shortages prompted the government to encourage Ghanaians to increase food production. It identifies the Rawlings regime's economic retrenchment as the most significant contributor to contemporary urban agriculture, having driven an increase in the number of people engaged in the practice.

Olivier D. W., Heinecken L. · Agriculture and Human Values 34(3):743-755 · South Africa

Examining NGO-run urban agriculture in Cape Town, this study finds projects aid food security while helping low-income women build supportive networks that unlock personal, social, and economic benefits beyond food provision.

Courtney M. Gallaher · CABI eBooks · Kenya

This chapter considers the effects of landscape greening, including small urban farms and sack gardening, on residents' perceptions of the environment in Kenya's Kibera slum over the last 10 years. It examines what environmental issues residents perceive as most serious, who they believe is responsible for addressing these problems, and to what extent they believe sack gardening is changing Kibera's physical and social environment.

Njenyuei Gideon Agho · Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences · South Africa (Johannesburg)

This research investigated how urban agriculture contributes to the sustainable livelihood of Cameroonian migrant women living in the inner city of Johannesburg. Findings revealed that urban agriculture is used as a strategy for sustainable livelihood by many Cameroonian migrant women, enabling them to raise substantial income to support their families in both South Africa and Cameroon. The study employed a mixed-method approach, combining purposeful sampling, a transect walk, in-depth face-to-face interviews, and written sources.

Remi Adeyemo, Ayodeji Ogunleye, Ayodeji Damilola Kehinde, Olamide Anuoluwapo Ayodele · American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering · Nigeria (Ibadan)

This study investigated the effects of urban agriculture on poverty alleviation among 100 vegetable farmers in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria, using a multistage sampling procedure. Data analysis showed that about 30% of sampled vegetable farmers experienced poverty, with 3.4% in extreme poverty and 7.9% moderately poor. Net income, cost of labor, and household size had significant effects on farmers' poverty status. The study concluded that vegetable farming is profitable and could help reduce poverty to a minimum level.

Jan Willem Swanepoel, Van Niekerk J.A., Luc D’Haese · Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir landbouvoorligting/South African journal of agricultural extension · South Africa (Cape Town)

This study analyzed the socio-economic profile of households in the informal settlement area of the Cape Town Metropolitan area, South Africa, focusing on poverty and food security. It examined average household size (4.32 members), average age of household head (50 years), gender (more female-headed households), education (40.1% with some secondary education), ethnic group (mostly African), and income sources (mainly formal salaries). The findings indicate a need to investigate additional income sources to improve household income and food security.

D. U. Okoedo-Okojie, C.O. Edeoghon · Journals & Books Hosting (International Knowledge Sharing Platform) · Nigeria

This study in Delta State, Nigeria, surveyed 120 extension workers from two research institutes. It found that only farm visits were regularly used for information dissemination, and extension principles focused on farmer needs and problem-solving were commonly practiced. Age, education, and rank significantly influenced the frequency of applying these principles.

Misrak Misikir Sebisibe · Journals & Books Hosting (International Knowledge Sharing Platform) · Ethiopia

This study in Wolaita Sodo town, Ethiopia, investigated determinants of women's participation in urban agriculture using a sample of 204 women respondents. The Tobit model found that age negatively affected participation, while dependency ratio, credit access, extension worker contact, land ownership, neighbor influence, farm experience, and improved seed access positively affected it. Descriptive analysis showed 22% of women in the study area participated in urban agriculture, with an average participation extent of 34.3%, generating average monthly incomes ranging from 557 to 3392 birr.

Fentahun Mengistu, Mulugeta Alemayehu · Ethiopian journal of agricultural sciences · Ethiopia

A 2017 study of homegardens in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia, based on interviews with 178 households across 7 sub-cities and 12 former kebeles, plus an inventory of fruit species and other higher plant and livestock species. It identified 58 higher plant species of various uses in the gardens: 17 fruit species (28.8%), 12 miscellaneous-use species (20%), 11 vegetable species (18.6%), 11 medicinal species (18.6%), and 8 spice/condiment species (13.6%); the most abundant perennial species were mango (20.8%), guava (13.4%), avocado (11.6%), papaya (11.2%), and Persian lilac (9.9%). It reports that the city gardens offer a distinctive opportunity for preserving medicinal and aromatic plants, while gardens in the outer city showed competition and substitution between horticultural crops and khat (chat).

Jonathan Crush, Bruce Frayne, Cameron McCordic · Journal of food security · Africa

This study uses household survey data from Maseru, Lesotho, to assess the relationship between household engagement in urban agriculture and food security. It found no consistent, statistically significant relationship between urban agriculture practice and food security; some urban agriculture practices were associated with significantly greater odds of food security only among middle-income households in the sample. Because the observed benefits appeared conditional on household income, the study concludes that a generalized, production-centered approach to food insecurity may not be the most effective means of addressing household food insecurity in Maseru.

Consolata Angello · Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · Africa

A literature review examines how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be used to access and disseminate livestock husbandry information to improve urban livestock keeping in Tanzania, drawing on existing studies of urban agricultural practice and the challenges of keeping livestock in urban areas. It surveys the state of ICT integration in agriculture globally, in Africa and in Tanzania specifically, examines the information needs of urban livestock keepers and the challenges they face using ICTs, and identifies gaps in the literature with recommendations for stakeholders going forward.

Aliyi Mama Gasu, Uma Devi Pongiya, Fatuma Hamid Mohammed · Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology · Ethiopia

A study assessed the challenges and opportunities of composting organic solid waste in Robe Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, using a descriptive survey design with a sample of 384 households drawn proportionally from three kebeles using a combination of probability and non-probability sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, field observation, and photography and analyzed with SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The study found that no proper composting of organic solid waste is currently taking place in the town. Barriers identified included lack of awareness, insufficient space for composting, lack of government support, absence of a policy framework, institutional gaps such as no dedicated urban agriculture department, and budget constraints. Opportunities noted included the large volume of available organic waste, farmers already engaged in urban agriculture, a suitable composting environment, high demand for organic fertilizer, and rising prices of chemical fertilizer.

Gareth Haysom, Jonathan Crush, Mary Caesar · Hungry Cities Partnership (Report No. 3), African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town · South Africa

Hungry Cities Partnership Report No. 3 examines Cape Town's demographics, economy, informal sector, urban agriculture and food security. A 2013 national survey found 26% of South Africans regularly experienced hunger and a further 28% were at risk, with urban informal areas showing especially high rates (36% hunger, 32% at risk). On urban agriculture, the report notes the City supports 201 community gardens with 1,849 beneficiaries, yet fewer than 5% of households in low-income study areas grow their own food.

Amy Stambach · Cambridge Journal of Education · Africa

This paper examines students' food perspectives across three East African contexts: a university in Kigali, Rwanda; a school garden and canteen in Nairobi, Kenya; and a fast-food restaurant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It contrasts these perspectives with the work of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in these countries. The study suggests that WFP could engage with food more complexly by building upon students' existing astute and complex food perspectives.

Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed Attia Khalil, Amr Abd El-Aal, Natacha Quintero, Hazem Aayash, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Mohamed R. Ibrahim, Kamal Marei · Procedia Environmental Sciences · Africa

This study focused on an urban upgrading project in El-Arab, an informal settlement in Hurghada, conducted by Master's students from the Urban Development department at Technische Universität Berlin Campus El-Gouna. The project proposed an integrative approach involving physical upgrading, solid waste management, and urban agriculture as three interconnected components to improve living conditions and livelihoods in El-Arab.

Kennedy K. Mwangi · IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science · Africa

This paper explores how legal information dissemination impacts socio-economic rights in informal settlements, focusing on urban agriculture rights in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. It investigates residents' knowledge of their urban agriculture rights and their information needs, as well as communication structures between the municipal council and residents. The research aims to provide legal information to enable residents to engage with available services.

Asadu Anthonia, Enwelu Innocent, Ifejika Philip, Igbokwe Edwin · African Journal of Agricultural Research · Nigeria

A survey and interviews with 210 urban farmers in southeast Nigeria explored the benefits and constraints of urban farming. Farmers reported benefits such as food and income sources, but also faced significant constraints including land insecurity, lack of access to credit, theft, and crop destruction by stray animals. The study concludes that urban farming needs to be legalized and integrated into urban policy to realize its full potential.

Albert Ayorinde Abegunde, Daniel Oluwasola Olaleye · · Nigeria (Lagos)

This study identified vacant land used for urban agriculture in Lagos, Nigeria, and assessed the socio-economic characteristics of 78 farmers in the Ojo Local Government Area. It examined the contributions of urban agriculture to community economic development. Findings showed that most farmers were married males aged 21-50, with about half lacking formal education and earning N6,000-8,999 per month.

Hannah Richason · School for International Training Digital Collections (School for International Training) · South Africa

This study explored perceptions of food access and healthful eating in the Masxha community, Cato Manor Township, through 10 interviews. The interviews focused on food habits, healthy food perceptions, buying habits, and food access, aiming to understand the experience of food insecurity. The findings indicated that very few participants appeared to be experiencing or at risk of food insecurity. The study concluded that more research is needed on urban food insecurity in South Africa and the effectiveness of community gardens in improving nutrition and food access.

S. J. Ibitoye, U Shaibu, Firdaus Sale, Oroka Frank · International Journal of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences · Nigeria (Kogi State)

This study assessed the influence of urban agriculture on household income in Kogi State, Nigeria, using data from 120 urban farmers. Urban agriculture was found to increase household income at a 90% confidence level. However, urban farmers faced significant constraints including inadequate capital (M=2.9), poor extension services (M=2.4), and high labor costs (M=2.2).

Muhammad Bello Ibrahim, Nobaya Ahmad, Asnarul Khadi Abu Samah, M.S.M. Redzuan · Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Putra Malaysia) · Nigeria

A quantitative study surveyed 217 peri-urban agricultural farmers in Kwadon, Gombe, NE Nigeria, from a population of 500, to assess their efforts in watershed sustainability and usage. Descriptive statistics indicated that the majority of these farmers are moderately sustaining the Kwadon watershed through their farming practices. The study focused on water sources, water sharing, and watershed management.

Elizabeth Vibert · Journal of Contemporary African Studies · South Africa

This article examines the Hleketani Community Garden in Limpopo Province, South Africa, highlighting the successes of women farmers in reducing poverty and improving health outcomes. Despite these benefits, the research identifies significant structural barriers, including lack of access to resources, unfavorable policy frameworks for small-scale agriculture, and worsening climate change, that hinder small-scale farmers, particularly women.

Francesco Sottile, Fiorito Daniela, Nadia Tecco, Vincenzo Girgenti, Cristiana Peano · Sustainability · Kenya

This study aimed to propose an interpretive framework, the "Sustainable Agri-Food Evaluation Methodology-Garden" (SAEMETH-G), to quantitatively guide the sustainability evaluation of school gardens. As a case study, the methodology was applied to 15 school gardens located in three regions of Kenya. The application of SAEMETH-G as an assessment tool demonstrated that sustainability evaluations of school gardens can be carried out through a participatory and interdisciplinary approach.

Hilary Bambrick, Stefano Moncada · QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) · Ethiopia

A photo-documentation report on a water point installed in 2012 as part of a biogas development initiative in an informal urban community of 200 households in Shashemene, Ethiopia. The facility comprises four latrines, an inlet for animal waste, a fermentation chamber, and a communal kitchen with four stoves; the fermented slurry by-product is used as fertiliser for the community garden. The report states that the system improved management of human and animal waste, reducing gastroenteric disease; provided cleaner cooking fuel than wood, dung, or charcoal, reducing indoor air pollution and respiratory disease risk; lowered household fuel costs; and increased food production and income through the fertiliser it generates.

Firehiwot Mezgabu, Degefa Tolossa · Ethiopian journal of development research · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

A 2015 study in Yeka Sub City, Addis Ababa, assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to the food security of 86 households. Findings showed that 74.4% of the households were food-secure, while 24.4% and 1.2% were mildly and severely food-insecure, respectively. Urban agriculture contributed to one-third of household income and played a significant role in improving food security and income, but lack of farmland and water were identified as major challenges.