Urban Agriculture in Kenya

Abstract

ResumeFonde sur les conclusions d'une enqu~te recente entreprise par l'Institut Mazingira de Nairobi, cet article analyse le caractere de ]'agriculture urbaine dans les villes du Kenya. I.: accent est mis sur le ravitaillement en nourriture en tant qu'element de l'economie informelle urbaine. I.: agriculture, basee sur les cultures et le betail est une activite commune frequemment rencontree dans les centres urbains en Afrique. Bien que consideree de peu d'importance par les urbanistes et les intellectuels, 1' agriculture urbaine est un element cle de l'economie des menages pauvres. Une telle agriculture lutte pour obtenir la terre, la main d'oeuvre et les ressources et renferme un aspect vital de 1' economie et du pays age urbains de la ville africaine. Selon cet article, la theorie urbaine africaine doit incorporer cet element de la realite urbaine d'une importance capitale.

Empowering Freetown’s women farmers

“…Researchers have often assumed that UPA comprises only a small part of urban life, and also occurs as a subsistence activity that contributes little to the overall economy of a city. As a result, UPA has been generally excluded from surveys on economic activities and livelihood strategies, despite the fact that it fits comfortably within the informal sector framework and occurs widely (Memon & Lee-Smith, 1993 urbanized by 2050 (Lynch et al, 2013). Many governments and city authorities are now struggling to provide basic services and infrastructure for their growing urban populations, leaving much of the urban population vulnerable to both poverty and food insecurity.…”

“…Lower income households are more likely to use public lands and smaller plots than their richer counterparts, who can afford to purchase better quality land, or who already own land privately that is large enough to facilitate UPA (Dossa et al, 2011;Memon & Lee-Smith, 1993). …”

“…The urban poor in many instances are the most vulnerable to malnutrition or under nutrition, in particular young children, pregnant women and households who have been impacted by HIV/Aids (Crush & Frayne, 2010;Memon & Lee-Smith, 1993). In Lumbumbashi (DRC), for example, 71% of the population suffer from inadequate food security and 57% have no access to clean water.…”

“…In light of this, the issue of urban food insecurity is increasing in profile as a key developmental challenge for many states, leading to a need for greater understanding of the significance of UPA. This literature review draws heavily on the work of several key authors in the field of UPA, including detailed case studies by Memon &Lee-Smith, 1993 andFlynn, 2001 in Kenya and Mwanza, Tanzania, respectively. .…”

“…In Harare (Zimbabwe) over 60% of the maize and vegetables produced in on-plot agriculture are consumed within the household (Mbiba, 2000). In Kenya, 77% of households engaged in UPA are producing food only for their household consumption (Memon & Lee-Smith, 1993). As highlighted above, a range of goods are produced by UPA that can act as both staples and to provide nutritional variation for the households involved in their production.…”