Name: Phillip Mucheri T
Learning Area: Geography 4022
Level: ‘O’ Level
Task Type: Field Work
Syllabus Topic: Agriculture and Land Reform
Syllabus Sub-Topic: Urban Agriculture Expansion In Local Area
BACKGROUND
There has been an upsurge in urban agricultural activities which has resulted in conflict with the
authorities as such activities local authorities’ by-laws.
Data collection tools
- Television
- Cellphone
- Notebook
- Newspapers
- Textbooks
- Magazines
Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture is the growing of crops on vacant land within and on the outskirts of cities and towns.
It is mostly a seasonal activity. Urban residents use this as a survival skill to supplement food supplies in
the wake of rising food prices ensuring urban food security. Surplus goods are sold to local residents to
increase household income.
Reasons for urban agriculture
Growing crops in a limited space. In most cases you don’t need a lot of space to grow your food. Urban
agriculture helps you to make the best use of space while growing all crops for family consumption or
for sell to the local people and the country at large. It reduces food insecurity. Around the country,
urban areas face constant issues of low food supplies or food being too much expensive. By providing
people the opportunity to grow and harvest their own fresh and nutritious food would benefit them a
lot. It enables high-quality food. Mass-produced food is often loaded with chemicals and pesticides to
increase production and shelf-life. By growing your own crops it enables high-quality food and also there
is self-management of your crops.
Characteristic of urban agriculture
The characteristics of urban agriculture are many however some include: poor households which are
leading to increase urban agriculture. Lodgers have a low rate of participation since municipal officials
allocate land to house owners. Lodgers thus usually cultivate on unallocated land. This is a major
problem because almost everyone is using this method to supplement food. Common crops which are
grown include maize, sweet potatoes, sugar beans and seasonal vegetables. Urban agriculture can utilize
organic waste and waste on edible crops and pastures. Another characteristic is that cultivation is
concentrated along wetlands and stream banks which can result in siltation and destruction of fragile
riverine ecosystems.
Advantages of Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture provides food security in the poor households in the wake of high retail food prices. It
is a source of varied food crops and animals such as chicken and rabbit which encourages a balanced
diet. It also utilizes vacant urban spaces and it is a source of livelihood as it employs the jobless through
part-time paid work and as a source of income as surplus in sold. It also makes residents more
sustainable.
Disadvantages of Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture destroys fragile habitats for endangered species, such as water fowls. It is also an
eyesore to the beauty of the community. Maize fields become hideouts for criminals, hence increase in
muggings and rape cases, among other crimes. Poor families may not have easy access to this livelihood
activity so it entrenches existing inequalities in access to resources. Urban agriculture can also lead to
environment degradation through erosion and siltation of stream courses and can increase the danger
of hazards such as flooding, landslides and other hazards.
Problems faced by Urban Agriculture Farmers
Climate change is one of the major problems faced by urban farmers. Pests and diseases is another
problem in which farmer face. This affects the growth of their crops leading to reduction of their
production. In addition, there is soil degradation which affects the production of the famers. Other
problems include land scarcity, drought, floods and low rainfall under high temperatures among many
other problems.
Mitigatory measures
To mitigate the challenges there’s need to introduce a planned, controlled, no permanent user
utilization of urban spaces for agriculture policy. Use a plot allocation process that is pro-poor residents,
such as lodgers, the homeless and the unemployed. Enforce applicable environmental management
regulations for example on avoiding stream-bank cultivation.
Questionnaire
1. Is urban agriculture beneficial to your families
2. How is it benefiting your family
3. What are the challenges that you come across with
4. What made you start urban agriculture
5. How did you start urban agriculture
6. How expensive is it to start urban agriculture
7. Which one is the most productive season
8. Where do you sell your surplus goods
Replies/Answers
1. Yes, urban agriculture is and has been beneficial to our families.
2. As a family or as the whole community we have benefitted a lot for example varied food crops
ensuring a balanced diet, source of income when surplus goods are sold and creation of
employment especially to the youths.
3. When it comes to agriculture itself there are many challenges that farmers come across with
some are: lack of capital, lack of knowledge and lack of basic tools and machinery for example
hoes, garden fork or a planter.
4. Lack of employment made me start urban agriculture however I have managed to create
employment for myself and even others thus people who help me to the faming.
5. I studied agriculture but due to lack of employment I had to utilize the very small piece of land
that I had. That is how I started urban agriculture.
6. It is not very expensive to start urban agriculture. All you need are the basic tools and of course,
the capital.
7. Summer is the most productive season of the year because it is mostly raining throughout the
season ensuring healthy plant growth.
8. Most of the surplus goods are sold to the local residents so that they also benefit. People with
larger pieces of land sell their surplus goods to the Grand Marketing Board (GMB)
