Abstract:
There have been increased trend of rural-urban migration that has created food
security issues and necessitated growth of urban agriculture. Recognizing the limited
information on the urban agriculture in Kenya, this study analyzed urban agriculture
as a tool of increasing food security within Eldoret Town. Despite growing awareness
about urban agriculture as a strategy of food security and poverty alleviation in urban
areas, it remains an informal undertaking and is not integrated to urban and
agricultural policies in Kenya, making it vulnerable and its sustainability is
jeopardized. The study objectives were: To determine the extent to which urban
households practice agriculture in Eldoret Town, evaluate the contribution of urban
agriculture to food production and income in Eldoret and, to identify technological
innovations used in urban agriculture in Eldoret town. The study relied on sustainable
livelihood approach propounded by Carney (2003), which focuses on the link between
poverty and food production for the poor urban farmers. From a target population of
3550, only 188 were purposely sampled (those who practiced agriculture) and 10 key
informants were used. The study was based on mixed research design using
interviews, questionnaires and content analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative data
analysis was utilised. Results indicate that most farmers practiced mixed farming for
subsistence consumption and for sale in small sized farmlands. Maize was grown by
highest number of respondents (54.3%) followed by vegetables (46.2%) while wheat
(33.2%), fruits (24.8%), beans (15.4%), and cowpeas (4.1%) were also grown. At the
same time, majority of the farmers owned poultry (75.5%), dairy cattle (59.3%), and
goats (31.5%). Urban agriculture was practiced for food (68.2%), or to increase
household income (49.6%). Individual farmers produced 315.2 ± 37.2 kgs of maize,
110.4 ± 25.4 kgs of vegetables, and 20.1 ± 2.7 kgs of cowpeas. But in terms of overall
production among all households, the production of maize was 105,943 ± 14,239 kg,
followed by vegetables (28,641 ± 4,477 kgs) whiles the harvest of wheat, cowpeas
(2,531 ± 189.2 kgs) and beans (5,088 ± 477 kgs) were low. Beef production was
estimated at 25 tonnes followed by eggs, milk and chicken (range 6 tonnes to 10
tonnes). In terms of individual household income, vegetable yielded the highest
income (Kshs 3.02 ± 0.32 million) followed by fruits (Kshs 2.41 ± 0.21) and then
maize (Kshs 2.01 ± 0.11) whiles income from wheat, bean and cowpeas were low
(Kshs 540,000 to 130,000). Beef contributed Kshs 9500 ± 120 to income, followed by
chicken (Kshs 7000 ± 870) and income from milk was Kshs 6020 ± 860. In terms of
overall income from the all the farmers, the highest contribution was from chicken
and beef estimated at Kshs 1.2 million followed by milk (Kshs 1.02 million) while
income from eggs, honey and bacon were low (estimated at below Kshs 300,000).
The innovations among the urban farmers were in the areas of improved crop
varieties/breeds, agrochemicals/veterinary drugs, machinery, water, feed, housing,
land preparation, supermarket, grocery point, credit management, urban market and
ICT (mobile phone). The study concludes that Urban Agriculture is an important
engagement among the urban dwellers because it provides food, employment and
income. However government's support, farming skills and modern farm inputs are
totally lacking and, generally unsupportive towns' bylaws. The recommends that; the
county authority to come up with supportive bylaws to urban agriculture, integrate
urban agriculture to Eldoret development plan in the future and encourage livestock
and animal diversification among urban farmers' while maintaining aesthetics of the
town. Further research on the effect of urban policies on urban agriculture is also
recommended by the study.