Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Assessment of Urban Farming Production, and Contribution to the Households’ Livelihood: A Case of Kigali City and Musanze District

Received: 21 July 2024     Accepted: 16 August 2024     Published: 6 September 2024
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Agriculture plays an important role in the economic growth and food security control in developing countries including Rwanda. This research study was carried out in Kigali and Musanze. Urban farming is one way to best use useless places closed inside household fences, resulting in high yields. Due to their short production cycle, Horticultural crops provide a quick response to emergency food needs, particularly in cities. These species have considerable yields that generate more income for farmers when used appropriately. The main objective of this study was to analyze the factors influencing urban farming production, profitability, and contribution to the households’ livelihoods in Rwanda. The population of interest for this research study constituted smallholder farmers of vegetables and fruits in Kigali and Musanze cities. The sampling unit was the garden household. A multistage sampling technique was employed involving purposive sampling of four districts Gasabo, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, and Musanze. The study used a sample frame of 1085 population and a sample size of 112 respondents. The results from the study indicated that ten factors over fourteen have a positive influence on urban farming production while four have a negative influence in the study area. The results also showed that the productive fruits grown are classified into five classes indicated in Figure 1. The results of the study revealed different places/methods used to grow vegetables/species and fruits such as bags, baskets and basins, hanging baskets, old wheels, pallet gardens, open ground, trellises, arches, shelves, fences window box walls. The results displayed that the crops do well in small areas/places closed inside the household’s fences. The results proved that urban farming contributed to the social economy through different parts example malnutrition control, money saving, and food security. The results pointed out that urban farming production is constrained by some challenges such as small owned parcels, lack of urban farming knowledge, lack of technologies, period of crop maturity, lack of capital, lack of awareness, habitation system, and infrastructures. However, urban farming development should be enhanced to maintain national food security and improve income for farmers.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 12, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11
Page(s) 89-104
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Assessment, Urban Farming, Production, Profitability, Households’ Livelihoods

References
[1] Anastasia Calhoun. (2007). Urban Agriculture and the Future of Farming.
[2] Bailkey, M., and J. Nasr. (2000). "From Brownfields to Greenfields: Producing Food in North American Cities," Community Food Security News.
[3] De Zeeuw, H.; Van Veenhuizen, R.; Dubbeling, M. (2011). The role of urban agriculture in building resilient cities in developing countries. Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 149(S1): 153-163
[4] Dickson Kibata Githugunyi. (2014). An assessment of the contribution of urban agriculture to households’ livelihoods in Roysambu ward, Nairobi County. Master Thesis.
[5] Drechsel, P.; Graefe, S.; Sonou, M.; Cofie, O. O. (2006): Informal irrigation in urban West Africa: An overview. IWMI Research Report.
[6] Drescher, A. W. (2004). Food for the Cities: Urban Agriculture in Developing Countries. Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Horticulture, Acta Horticulture.
[7] Fanzo, J. (2012). The nutrition challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa: Working paper. United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Africa.
[8] FAO. (1998). State of Food and Agriculture. Feeding the Cities. FAO, Rome.
[9] FAO. (1999). An Article on Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture, Rome.
[10] FAO. (2008). Urban and Peri-Urban Horticulture. Plant production and protection.
[11] FAO. (2012). Growing greener cities in Africa. Rome.
[12] FAO. (2013). "Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture, Household Food Security and Nutrition"
[13] Hampwaye, G.; Nel, E. & Ingombe, L. (2013)."The role of urban agriculture in addressing household poverty and food security: the case of Zambia". Gdnet.org Retrieved 1 April 2013.
[14] Jansen, W. S., Averbeke, W., Slabbert, R., Faber, M., Jaarsveld, P., Heerden, I., Wenhold, F. & Oelofse, A. (2007). African leafy vegetables in South Africa, Water SA (online).
[15] MINAGRI. (2013). Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture in Rwanda: Phase III, July 2013.
[16] Mogk, J. E.; Kwiatkowski, S. K.; Weindorf, M. J. (2011). Promoting urban agriculture as an alternative land use for vacant properties in the city of Detroit: Benefits, problems, and proposals for a regulatory framework for successful land use integration. Wayne Law Rev.
[17] Slavin, J. L.; Lloyd, B. (2012). Health benefits of fruits and vegetables. Adv. Nutr.
[18] Muhanji, G., Roothaert, R. L., Webo, C. & Mwangi, S. (2011). African indigenous vegetable enterprises and market access for small-scale farmers in East Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. 9(1): 194-202.
[19] NISR (I). (2012). "Population size, structure and distribution". Retrieved 1 June 2018.
[20] NISR. (2012). Rwanda 4th Population and Housing Census.
[21] Pothukuchi, K.; Kaufman, J. L. (2000). The food system. A stranger to the planning field. J. Am. Plan. Assoc.
[22] Smith, I. F. & Eyzaguirre, P. (2007). African Leafy Vegetables: Their Role in the WHO’s Global Fruit and Vegetable Initiative. African Journal of Food Agriculture Nutrition and Development. 7(14).
[23] Swartz, S. H.; Ranum, O. J.; Phillips, O. K.; Cavanaugh, J. J.; Bennett, A. E. (2003). "Urban Gardening Yields Benefits for Low-Income Families". Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
[24] Urban harvest. (2010). Urban Agriculture in Africa, International Potato Centre, Lima, Peru.
[25] Van den Berg, A. E.; van Winsum-Westra, M.; de Vries, S.; van Dillen, S. M. E. (2010). Allotment gardening and health: A comparative survey among allotment gardeners and their neighbors without an allotment. Environ. Health.
[26] Van Veenhuizen, R.; Danso, G. (2007). Profitability and Sustainability of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture; FAO: Rome, Italy.
[27] Veenhuizen R. V. (2006): Urban Agriculture for Green and Productive Cities. RUAF Foundation, IDRC, and IIRR.
[28] Warren, E.; Hawkesworth, S.; Knai, C. (2015) Investigating the association between urban agriculture and food security, dietary diversity, and nutritional status: A systematic literature review. Food Policy.
[29] Wikipedia,
[30] Wilkins, J. L.; Farrell, T. J.; Rangarajan, A. (2015). Linking vegetable preferences, health, and local food systems through community-supported agriculture. Public Health Nutr.
[31] World Bank. (2007). World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development, World Bank.
[32] World Statistics. (2013). International statistics. Word development indicator.
[33]
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Gaspard, N., Festus, M., Claude, T. J., Ogwal, H., Mburu, D. M. (2024). Assessment of Urban Farming Production, and Contribution to the Households’ Livelihood: A Case of Kigali City and Musanze District. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 12(4), 89-104. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Gaspard, N.; Festus, M.; Claude, T. J.; Ogwal, H.; Mburu, D. M. Assessment of Urban Farming Production, and Contribution to the Households’ Livelihood: A Case of Kigali City and Musanze District. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2024, 12(4), 89-104. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Gaspard N, Festus M, Claude TJ, Ogwal H, Mburu DM. Assessment of Urban Farming Production, and Contribution to the Households’ Livelihood: A Case of Kigali City and Musanze District. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2024;12(4):89-104. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11,
      author = {Ntabakirabose Gaspard and Maniriho Festus and Tuyisenge Jean Claude and Harold Ogwal and David Mwehia Mburu},
      title = {Assessment of Urban Farming Production, and Contribution to the Households’ Livelihood: A Case of Kigali City and Musanze District
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {12},
      number = {4},
      pages = {89-104},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20241204.11},
      abstract = {Agriculture plays an important role in the economic growth and food security control in developing countries including Rwanda. This research study was carried out in Kigali and Musanze. Urban farming is one way to best use useless places closed inside household fences, resulting in high yields. Due to their short production cycle, Horticultural crops provide a quick response to emergency food needs, particularly in cities. These species have considerable yields that generate more income for farmers when used appropriately. The main objective of this study was to analyze the factors influencing urban farming production, profitability, and contribution to the households’ livelihoods in Rwanda. The population of interest for this research study constituted smallholder farmers of vegetables and fruits in Kigali and Musanze cities. The sampling unit was the garden household. A multistage sampling technique was employed involving purposive sampling of four districts Gasabo, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, and Musanze. The study used a sample frame of 1085 population and a sample size of 112 respondents. The results from the study indicated that ten factors over fourteen have a positive influence on urban farming production while four have a negative influence in the study area. The results also showed that the productive fruits grown are classified into five classes indicated in Figure 1. The results of the study revealed different places/methods used to grow vegetables/species and fruits such as bags, baskets and basins, hanging baskets, old wheels, pallet gardens, open ground, trellises, arches, shelves, fences window box walls. The results displayed that the crops do well in small areas/places closed inside the household’s fences. The results proved that urban farming contributed to the social economy through different parts example malnutrition control, money saving, and food security. The results pointed out that urban farming production is constrained by some challenges such as small owned parcels, lack of urban farming knowledge, lack of technologies, period of crop maturity, lack of capital, lack of awareness, habitation system, and infrastructures. However, urban farming development should be enhanced to maintain national food security and improve income for farmers.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Urban Farming Production, and Contribution to the Households’ Livelihood: A Case of Kigali City and Musanze District
    
    AU  - Ntabakirabose Gaspard
    AU  - Maniriho Festus
    AU  - Tuyisenge Jean Claude
    AU  - Harold Ogwal
    AU  - David Mwehia Mburu
    Y1  - 2024/09/06
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    SP  - 89
    EP  - 104
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7536
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20241204.11
    AB  - Agriculture plays an important role in the economic growth and food security control in developing countries including Rwanda. This research study was carried out in Kigali and Musanze. Urban farming is one way to best use useless places closed inside household fences, resulting in high yields. Due to their short production cycle, Horticultural crops provide a quick response to emergency food needs, particularly in cities. These species have considerable yields that generate more income for farmers when used appropriately. The main objective of this study was to analyze the factors influencing urban farming production, profitability, and contribution to the households’ livelihoods in Rwanda. The population of interest for this research study constituted smallholder farmers of vegetables and fruits in Kigali and Musanze cities. The sampling unit was the garden household. A multistage sampling technique was employed involving purposive sampling of four districts Gasabo, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, and Musanze. The study used a sample frame of 1085 population and a sample size of 112 respondents. The results from the study indicated that ten factors over fourteen have a positive influence on urban farming production while four have a negative influence in the study area. The results also showed that the productive fruits grown are classified into five classes indicated in Figure 1. The results of the study revealed different places/methods used to grow vegetables/species and fruits such as bags, baskets and basins, hanging baskets, old wheels, pallet gardens, open ground, trellises, arches, shelves, fences window box walls. The results displayed that the crops do well in small areas/places closed inside the household’s fences. The results proved that urban farming contributed to the social economy through different parts example malnutrition control, money saving, and food security. The results pointed out that urban farming production is constrained by some challenges such as small owned parcels, lack of urban farming knowledge, lack of technologies, period of crop maturity, lack of capital, lack of awareness, habitation system, and infrastructures. However, urban farming development should be enhanced to maintain national food security and improve income for farmers.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Forest Research Department, Rwanda Forestry Authority, Huye, Rwanda

  • College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAVM), University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda

  • Agriculture and Natural Resource Department, Ministry of Local Government, Musanze, Rwanda

  • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

  • Department of Land Resources Planning and Management, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya

  • Sections