"To subsidise my income" : : urban farming in an East-African town / / by Dick Foeken.

• Superior document: Afrika-Studiecentrum series, v. 7
• Author: Foeken, D.
• Year of Publication: 2006
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Afrika-Studiecentrum series ; v. 7.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (241 p.)
• Notes: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa has gained momentum in recent years in terms of research and policy, as well as in practical terms. The paradox of accelerated urbanisation and the increase in urban agriculture in developing countries is widely recognised. More than ever before, urban residents all over the developing world are cultivating urban plots and/or keeping animals to sustain their livelihoods. This volume looks at urban farming in the Kenyan town of Nakuru and is based on surveys and in-depth studies carried out by various researchers, including Kenyan Masters students. It considers farming techniques, the socio-economic aspects of urban farming and the environmental issues involved, and there is also a chapter on school farming. Specific attention is paid to urban farming in relation to poverty, with the conclusion being that those who depend on urban agriculture the most are, in fact, benefiting the least from it.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Maps, Figures, Boxes, Tables -- Photos -- Glossary and abbreviations -- Foreword -- 1 The issue -- Urbanization and urban poverty -- Urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa -- Urban agriculture in Kenya -- Aspects of urban farming -- Theoretical considerations -- The present study -- 2 The setting -- Nakuru town -- The study population -- 3 The farmers -- Numbers and geographical distribution -- Urban farmers and non-farmers -- Rural farmers and non-farmers -- 4 The crops -- Urban plots -- Crops and inputs -- Yields -- Problems -- 5 The animals -- Animal production -- Rearing systems -- Inputs -- Problems -- Waste disposal -- 6 The benefits -- Importance of urban farming as perceived by respondents -- Food supply -- Food consumption and nutrition -- Income -- Employment -- 7 The support -- Assistance for crop cultivators and livestock keepers -- The Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (ARDP) -- The Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (ECLOF Kenya) -- 8 The environment -- Introduction -- Urban farmers' environmental awareness -- Perceptions and attitudes -- Heavy metal concentrations -- 9 The schools -- Institutional farming -- School farming in Kenya -- School farming in Nakuru town -- 10 The poor -- Introduction -- Farming -- Benefits -- Support -- Environment -- Schools -- Gender -- 11 Summary and conclusions -- Introduction -- Summary of findings -- Theoretical reflections -- Policy and the future of urban farming in Nakuru -- Annexes -- Tables -- Annex 1: The Nakuru Urban Agriculture Research Project (NUAP) -- Annex 2: Sampling and the study population -- Annex 3: The farmers -- Annex 4: The crops -- Annex 5: The animals -- Annex 6: The benefits -- Annex 7: The support -- Annex 8: The environment -- Annex 9: The schools -- Annex 10: The poor.

Annex 11: Results of the NUAP workshop, 27-28 November 2002 -- References -- Index -- AFRIKA-STUDIECENTRUM SERIES.