Factors Influencing Urban Agriculture Perfomance In Mathare Sub-County, Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

The main aim of the research study was to investigate the factors affecting urban agriculture performance in county of Nairobi. The objectives include: To establish the impact of urban planning on urban agriculture performance; to determine the role gender plays in urban agriculture performance; to explore the link between food security and urban agriculture performance and to determine the influence of income on urban agriculture. The study draws upon the Innovation-Diffusion and Sustainable Livelihood Theories and will employ a descriptive survey research design. It will utilize the simple random sampling method and use a household survey, semi-structured interviews, and key informants to collect data. The target population was 5000 farmers who head their respective family units; hence by utilization of Krejcie and Morgan's technique the sample size was derived to be 357 respondents. Essential information was gathered by methods of semi-structured questionnaires. A pilot test was directed with the end goal to test the legitimacy of the questionnaires and Expert conclusions help to set up content legitimacy. The examination yielded both quantitative and qualitative information. The qualitative information gathered was assessed through content analysis. Quantitative information was assessed through descriptive statistics with the assistance of SPSS. The results were exhibited utilizing tables, frequencies and rates. The study established that that no land use regulations in Mathare Sub-County are in place, and there are no legislations and policies encouraging or inhibiting urban agriculture. It was also found that Mathare Sub-County households have no access to sufficient and nutritious foods supply and households have unreliable food supply. In addition, women have equal access rights to urban farm space as men and more women practice urban agriculture to produce food for the family than for sale as compared to men. The study concludes that the rising food insecurity has had an increase in urban agricultural practices in Mathare Sub-County. Also, it was inferred that urban farming can profit on the off chance that it is joined in the urban organic waste management, and available salary openings and an unsatisfied interest for farm items in both amount and quality bring out a major challenge to urban agriculture. The investigation suggests that the legislature ought to be at the fore front in enabling urban inhabitants appreciate the advantages of an urban green space, making social systems to plan, execute and keep up the urban green space and make a procedure of strategy to adjust the requirements of those living in urban zones with the necessities of the bigger ecological concerns.