Food security attainment role of urban agriculture: a case study from Adama City

Abstract

This study was conducted with the main objective of assessing the role of urban agriculture in attaining urban food security with special reference to smallholdings in Adama city. In so doing, as studies on urban agriculture are limited, if not inexistent, it would attempt to bridge such research gap and raise the awareness of urban administrators and planners towards addressing the strategies to appropriately handle and develop the sector. To that effect, the necessary data were generated from both primary and secondary sources. Field observations, sample household survey, key informant interview and focus group discussions were the principal means of generating data from primary sources. Secondary data were also obtained from concerned organizations. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were employed to analyze the data. A quantitative technique known as household food balance model was used to look into the household per capita dietary energy contribution of urban agriculture in Adama. Moreover, regression analysis was employed to see the determinants of agricultural productivity in the study area. The findings of this study confirm that urban agriculture plays a great role in attaining urban household food security. Over 40per cent of the surveyed sample households were obtaining well over the nationally set minimum dietary energy requirement only from their urban farmlands. Based on the findings of the study, both short term and long term urban agriculture development intervention schemes, strategies and policy issues have been recommended.

Key Words: Food security, urban agriculture