WORKSHOP URBAN MICRO-FARMING AND HIV-AIDS Johannesburg/Cape Town, South Africa 15-26 August 2005

URBAN AGRICULTURE SURVEYS BY NCST IN KENYA

By John O. Onyatta NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Nairobi, Kenya

July 2005

INTRODUCTION The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is a statutory institution of the Government of Kenya, under the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, established in July 1977. NCST is the national focal point for Science and Technology policies and its mission is to innovatively integrate science and technology into national development. In addition to generation of policies, NCST promotes activities that facilitate development of those aspects of S & T that, as yet, have not received adequate attention. It appraises new or emerging scientific and technological issues and advises the government accordingly. The NCST recognized the role of urban and peri-urban agriculture in food security and provision of nutrition. In Kenya, farming in cities and towns is increasingly gaining significance. A large amount of food is produced in and around urban areas but this is not properly planned or regulated due to lack of policy on urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) (Onyatta and Omoto, 2004). A study carried by Lee-Smith indicated that almost two thirds of urban households grow part of their food, while 29% grew these crops within the urban area in which they live (Lee-Smith et.al., 1987). Due to rapid urbanization and increasing poverty, aggravated by the HIV-AIDS epidemic, urban households are turning to urban and peri-urban agriculture as important means of providing food and income. Farming is conducted in all kinds of open public places, namely; along riverbanks, roads railway lines, under power lines and on reclaimed wetlands. Kales, tomatoes, cabbages and spinach were widely grown crops by farmers in Nairobi through irrigation. Urban livestock farmers in Nairobi preferred poultry followed by goats and then cattle (Ishani et al., 2002). The legal situation on urban agriculture is unclear with most urban dwellers assuming it is illegal. However, a close look at the Local Government and Public Health Acts, as well as the City by-laws, indicates that urban farming may be practiced under certain restrictions. Government Policy documents have not included UPA, as a means of addressing food security in urban areas (GoK, 2001; GoK, 2002; GoK, 2003). The recent Government Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (GoK, 2004) which is a national policy, aimed at achieving a progressive reduction in unemployment, poverty and addressing food security, UPA was not mentioned. However, urban and peri-urban micro-farming has potential in providing food for the urban areas, employment, income generation and environmental management. The increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS in urban centres has resulted in loss of productive agricultural personnel and manual labour force for substantial farming knowledge and diversion of resources to the treatment of disease. The income of HIV/AIDS affected households has been critically minimized and they are in need of nutritious food. Urban agriculture could play a role in alleviating hunger and malnutrition among HIV/AIDS affected persons in the urban areas. In Kenya, the adult HIV prevalence stands at about 10.2% with an estimated 2.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS (ICASA meeting, 2003). The urban areas are the most affected by HIV/AIDS scourge with a prevalence of 35% among pregnant women. Against this background the NCST decided to conduct, in cooperation with the Directorate of Research Development of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, baseline surveys in selected cities in Kenya. The overall objective of the survey was to document the current status of urban agriculture in the selected cities and to obtain information needed for policy formulation in addressing food security in urban centres.

The major cities targeted were Kisumu and Mombassa. These cities were chosen because most studies on urban agriculture that have been conducted so far were implemented in Nairobi, while the situation in other main cities remained uncovered. Kisumu city has recorded one of the highest levels of absolute poverty (63%) compared to other cities (GoK 1997) and is also one of the urban areas that is seriously affected by HIV/AIDS. The level of absolute poverty in Mombassa was reported as 38% (GoK, 1997). Kisumu City Council has integrated urban agriculture into City Development Strategy. Urban agriculture is considered as an important means of providing cheap, fresh and nutritious food for the urban consumers and also as a non-market access to food for the urban poor. With support of Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation (LVRLAC) an urban gardening and composting demonstration plot was established in the city, where a variety of vegetables including traditional ones are grown on the demonstration plot. The City Council is working with urban farmer groups in the informal settlements to demonstrate to the residents in the area the technologies for composting and safe methods for growing vegetables and other crops. This is one way to disseminate safe ways of conducting urban agriculture. The urban farmers have shown interest in the farming methods at the Kisumu City Council demonstration site. Kisumu City Council Departments are also working in collaboration with other stakeholders including NGOs, and tree nurseries operators, traders of agro-forestry products and the management of Kisumus open air market.

Mixed cropping (left) and varies crops in pot (right)

The survey conducted in Mombasa revealed that urban agriculture is widely practiced. Horticulture is widely carried out by the Asian communities in home gardens and peri-urban open field plots for domestic consumption and generation of income from market sales. Some of these vegetables are grown under irrigation. Although use of sewage for farming is highly discouraged, some cases have been reported. Balcony farming was also common especially among women in the island. Groups in Mombassa and Kisumu preferred to have a mix of crops mainly vegetables and tree fruits.

Livestock farming in Mombasa included poultry, ostrich, quails, dairy cattle and crocodile. Poultry farming is widespread because it has a ready market in hotels and restaurants. In case of dairy farmers, cases of pesticide residues in milk were reported in 1997 indicating a possibility of pesticide use in the urban farming systems. There were cases of intensive use of available backyards where livestock (especially diary cattle or goat) was kept and on one side of the backyard, vegetables were grown. The animals were a source of manure for the crops. The raw milk market witnessed in the urban areas provides a number of poor consumers with affordable nutrition, which would decline if it were not available. Apart from the local groups, urban farming was being practiced in schools and G.K. prisons at Shimo la Tewa in Mobasa. The organizations involved in urban agriculture that were surveyed included, community groups, home gardens/kitchen gardens, and individuals. Our observations indicated that individuals on the backyards and home gardens were more organized and were using clean methods of urban farming. The community groups using public land need more training on the use of appropriate technologies and safe ways of urban farming. The groups using open spaces were also not sure of the land availability. Restrictions in labour availability for farming or other productivities were observed during the survey especially where the households were involved in other income generating activities or if some of the family members were ailing. Some NGOs are targeting the urban farmer groups to provide seeds and tools, training on improved production technologies and other services. Despite the lack of policy on urban farming, the Ministry of Agriculture is providing e extension services to some groups of urban micro farmers in Mombassa, including the Tudor General Self Help Group that operates in the informal settlement along the ocean on a land that belongs to the Kenya Ports Authority. The group consists of 18 members, of which 8 are females and 10 are males. Farming activities include growing of vegetables, cowpeas and fruit trees for domestic consumption and to generate income. They are also using sacks filled with soil and compost manure to grow vegetables. Water from the underground springs is used to irrigate the land and compost manure is used to improve the soil fertility. They are able to meet their nutrition requirements from the farms. The study revealed that land was a major constraint in urban farming in Mombassa. The harsh weather conditions in the City are another constraint to urban farming. Other problems encountered by the urban farming groups (like the Tudor Self Help Group) include: lack of funding, pests, lack of farm tools, theft of the produce and lack of training on appropriate methods for safe farming.

Compost (left) and home plot irrigated with household wastewater

LESSONS LEARNT Legalisation The surveys indicate that a main constraint to urban farming is the absence, inadequacy and/or inconsistency in policies and legislation framework regarding urban agriculture, often leading to harassment of urban farmers from local officers. The surveys conducted indicated that urban agriculture would gain success and significance especially where adequate policies were developed, creating an enabling environment for urban agriculture. It is therefore important that the legal situation of urban agriculture is made clear and that urban agriculture is incorporated into city land use planning. Access to land and water The lack of land and water for food production is a major problem for the urban farmers as revealed in the surveys conducted. Land grabbing by the rich is a common feature. The urban farmers use any available open space along roads, railway lines, under power lines etc. which exposes them to certain dangers. In the cities, even where water is available, it is never enough for domestic use and some parts of the city can be without water for weeks. Water use is therefore restricted and in some parts water it is not accessible. This has resulted in the use of untreated sewage water by farmers in some parts of Nairobi and Kisumu. Other groups use water from springs to water their crops. Use of grey water from the kitchen is common among those practicing home gardens. For organizations wishing to set up urban agriculture projects, they should consider the issues of water and the UPA policies on land use. Health and nutrition aspects Urban agriculture provides cheap, fresh and nutritious food. But especially among community groups farming on public land there is often little regard to health risks associated with urban agriculture due to lack of training on health issues and lack of access to water. The use of untreated sewage leads to damages to the sewage network and free flowing raw sewage that forms a risk for peoples health. Also the

products of sewage irrigated crops may be harmful if vegetables are not properly washed and cooked. Technology development and extension Service provision to urban farmers is still limited. NCST, in collaboration with other institutions, is looking at ways of disseminating the available technologies that could assist the urban farmers in boosting their production. Through data collection we will quantify all the technical constraints facing urban micro-farmers in order to assist them. We intend to collaborate with the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development, Urban harvest, Local Authorities and other stakeholders. NCST and the Directorate of Research Development participate in the Nairobi and Environs Food Security, Agriculture and Livestock Forum (NEFSALF). This is a forum with actors from the community, government and market sectors, in order to promote cooperation around city and environs food security, agriculture and livestock keeping matters. Institutional aspects The surveys indicate that urban agriculture programmes require the participation of a variety of institutions and adequate institutional arrangements to facilitate urban agriculture. Further, the Surveys indicate that at present institutional arrangements are inadequate which limits research, documentation and information sharing and limits the provision of adequate services to urban farmers. In the proposal that we have formulated for Nairobi City (titled Strengthening urban food security in Nairobi City through improved food supply and distribution systems), the following major institutions are involved: Directorate of Research Development, Nairobi City Council, CGIAR-Urban Harvest, Provincial Agricultural Office, Provincial Livestock and Fisheries Development, Department of Urban Development, Ministry of Local Government, Family concern and Kenya Green Towns Partnership Association
References GoK (1997) Economic Survey. Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and National Development. GoK (2001) Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper for the Period 2001 2004, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Nairobi. GoK (2002) National Development Plan for the Period 2002 2008, Ministry of Finance and Planning. GoK (2003) Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation: 2003- Ministry of Planning and National Development, Nairobi. GoK (2004) Ministry of Agriculture 2004. Revitalizing Agriculture. 2004 2014. ICASA (2003) International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted diseases in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya. ISHANI Z., P.K. GATHURU AND L. DAVINDER (2002). Scooping study of urban and per-urban poor livestock keepers in Nairobi. Mazingira Institute. LEE SMITH, D. M. MANUNDU, L. DAVINDER AND P.K. GATHURU (1987). Urban Food Production and the cooking fuel situation in urban Kenya. Mazingira Institute. NCST (2004) NCST Newsletter. Issue No.1 November 2004. ONYATTA J.O. AND W.O. OMOTO (2004). Potential for urban and peri-urban agriculture to create employment and reduce poverty. Proceedings of the stakeholder workshop on urban and periurban agriculture policy. Organized by Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Urban Harvest-CIP and the International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.