Factors Influencing the Level of Participation in Urban Agriculture Practices in Western Kenya

Abstract

Food insecurity and factors determining urban agriculture have been widely researched either as separate entities or in their nexus, although general understanding of these two important facets is still elusive due to a lack of reliable data. Similarly, the changing population pattern orchestrated by the spread of urbanization has resulted into a rise in poverty and food demand, necessitating UA. However, factors affecting participation in UA practices seem to have attracted scanty documentation. The purpose of the study was to assess the factors affecting participation in UA in Western Kenya. The specific objectives were to assess how farm sizes affect participation in UA practices; to analyse how type of farming affect UA practices; establish the reasons behind UA practices among households, and to the main constraints affecting UA in Western Kenya. Mixed method approach of data collection and data analysis was adopted on a target population of 440 urban farmers (Eldoret: N=137; Kakamega: N=145; Kisumu: N=158) identified through the assistance of County Agricultural officers in the three towns. A sample size of 205 respondents (Eldoret=63; Kakamega=68; Kisumu=74) was obtained using stratified technique. Questionnaire and Key Informant interviews were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. Results showed that an average of 71% of urban farmers maintained that the level of practice of urban agriculture was either high or very high in the three study towns.  It was revealed that an eighth of an acre (1/8 acre) was the smallest farm sizes that were common in Kisumu city, while Kakamega and Eldoret had a quarter (1/4) acre as the most common farm size. Vegetables were the main crop grown by urban farmers in all the three towns. Poultry keeping was the most common livestock kept by the urban farmers at levels of practice within the three towns, except for average level of practice where cattle dominated in Kisumu and Kakamega.