| dc.description.abstract | The study sought to investigate the practice of agriculture in sub-urban areas. This was
necessitated by the revelation, from other studies, that the activity was largely practiced by the
urban poor as a survival strategy. In spite of the presence of some studies there still existed gaps.
Legal framework too is not elaborate. It is for this reason(s) that this study was undertaken.
Research methodology employed included the use of primary and secondary sources. In the
collection of data from the primary sources structured household questionnaires and
scheduled/guided interviews were employed. Questionnaires were used on the households while
the guided interviews were administered to four institutions. These institutions included the
provincial administration, the Department of agriculture, the Department of veterinary, and the
Department of City Planning and Architecture of the Nairobi City Council. The use of the above
two tools were nevertheless not the only ones used. Other tools employed included the utilization
of informal discussions, participant observation and photography. Secondary sources included the
extraction of information from both the published and unpublished texts - books, dissertations,
pamplets,journals, office reports, archival records and seminar/conference papers.
Data collected was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) package after
which outputs generated were used as input in Microsoft excel to generate graphs and charts.
Analyzed data was then presented using frequency tables, pie charts and bar graphs. It should be
borne in mind that this was a basic research which employed descriptive analysis method.
Emerging from this study indicate that the practice of UA is done for a variety of reasons.
- It is done to obtain food, derive income, as a hobby and as a last resort alternative activity. ,
- The practice of UA is culturally rooted with a long historical establishment stretching far back to
the 1930s. Although, this was the case urbanisation was cattching up - seen from the steadily
rising rate of land subdivision.
- Contrary to the legal provisions NCC played no active role as regards UA unlike the Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock Development and Marketing.
- Due to the high level use of organic manure as opposed to the use of inorganic fertilizers UA in
this sub-urban area was largely organic.
- In spite of the fact that UA was extensively practiced it faced a couple of problems. This
included incidences of diseases and pests, cheating on seeds, breeds and fertilizers, inadequacies
and shortages of water and extension and veterinary services. In addition to this, marketing of the
produce meant for sale faced both steep competition and unpredictable prices due to lack of
established market(s).
It is on the basis of these findings that recommendations are made and areas for future research
suggested. Two sets of recommendations are formulated. The first set deals with the problems
faced while the second set dwells on the future planning directions. These are:-
- It is proposed that the high cost and the cheating on inputs can be sought out by the use of
organic manure (to reduce on costs) and by forming Farmers Co-operatives (to check on costs of
inputsand on cheating as well as on marketing of the produce).
Emerging from this study indicate that the practice of UA is done for a variety of reasons.
- It is done to obtain food, derive income, as a hobby and as a last resort alternative activity,
- The practice of UA is culturally rooted with a long historical establishment stretching far back to
the 1930s. Although, this was the case urbanisation was catching up - seen from the steadily
rising rate of land subdivision.
- Contrary to the legal provisions NCC played no active role as regards UA unlike the Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock Development and Marketing.
- Due to the high level use of organic manure as opposed to the use of inorganic fertilizers UA in
this sub-urban area was largely organic.
- In spite of the fact that UA was extensively practiced it faced a couple of problems. This
included incidences of diseases and pests, cheating on seeds, breeds and fertilizers, inadequacies
and shortages of water and extension and veterinary services. In addition to this, marketing of the
produce meant for sale faced both steep competition and unpredictable prices due to lack of
established market(s).
It is on the basis of these findings that recommendations are made and areas for future research
suggested. Two sets of recommendations are formulated. The first set deals with the problems
faced while the second set dwells on the future planning directions. These are:-
- It is proposed that the high cost and the cheating on inputs can be sought out by the use of
organic manure (to reduce on costs) and by forming Farmers Co-operatives (to check on costs of
inputs and on cheating as well as on marketing of the produce).
- The presence of agriculture within the urban scene is a manifestation of a 'felt need' which
consequently is the premise of all forms of planning. The vague legislative framework needs to be
ammened so as to put UA in its proper perspective .
.•Since UA is an urban activity, provision of agricultural extension and veterinary services needs to
be part and parcel oflocal authority's functions - the caretaker of the urban areas.
As a planning response the presence of UA poses the challenge of how best to integrate it into or
not into urban fabric. Due to inadequacies in crucial empirical data suggested are areas for further
research. These are:-
- The effects of smoke, from cars and factories, and dusts on crops and livestock enterprises.
- The possibilities of using raw sewage (at household level) as an input in agricultural production
without posing any health hazard to the crops, livestock or to the human beings.
- The environmental impacts of organic vis-a-vis inorganic farming. and,
- The rational approach to the integration or the non-integration of UA into the urban system from
an environmental perspective.
This thesis is organised into six chapters. A statement of the problem, objectives of the study,
underlying assumptions and the conceptual framework are all contained in chapter one. Literature
related to the practice of urban agriculture is reviewed in chapter two.In this chapter are aspects
such as the planning regimes in practice - especially those practised in Nairobi. Legal provisions
pertaining to this activity are expounded. Background information to the study area is discussed in
chapter three. The name Karen, as was established, is a legacy of a coffee farm which was owned
by Mr and Mrs Karen called Karen Coffee Farm. Chapters four and five contains synthesized data
which is presented graphically. The report is concluded with a set of feasible recommendations. It
is' here that areas for further research are suggested to aid in Knowledge acquisition, bridge
existing gaps and help in the planning of urban land in the future. | en_US |
