An Assessment Of The Importance Of Urban Crop Cultivation In Makadara Sub County, Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Urbanization is mostly associated with growth and development. However, it comes along with various challenges such as increased poverty levels, high unemployment rates, and food insecurity. As such, urban households have had to come up with different coping strategies to enable them to survive. One of the strategies adopted by the vast majority of urban low-income families is urban agriculture. The practice of urban agriculture has, over time, been used to improve livelihoods, and overall well-being of the people through assured food security, increased income and provision of employment opportunities. This study aims to assess urban crop cultivation practices using Makadara Sub County as a case study. It mainly focuses on (1) the nature and extent of crop cultivation;(2) the importance of carrying out crop cultivation; and (3) the innovative crop cultivation practices adopted by farmers. Field research comprised of structured interviews with the sampled farmers, key informant interviews, and direct field observation. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The study results are largely based on data generated from a sample of 35 crop cultivators in three administrative wards of Makadara Sub County, namely Viwandani, Makongeni, and Hamza. The study shows that crop cultivation activities are being carried out on a large scale or small scale and on any parcel of land available. Where land or other resources are limited, farmers have come up with innovative ways to carry out their farming. The practice has also improved household’s access to food and increased their incomes through sale of produce and on savings from buying food. Those in the nearby areas are also able to buy food at subsidized costs from the farms and are assured of fresh produce. Crop cultivation also helps in preserving biodiversity and enhances the aesthetic value of urban areas. It is evident that participation in crop cultivation practices improves livelihoods of urban dwellers and thus should be given support through integrating the practice in national urban policies as well as enhancing urban farmers’ capacity through relevant extension services. The key study recommendation is to promote the use of public private partnerships to enhance the use of innovative technologies in urban crop cultivation.