Potential for Sustainable Urban and Peri-Urban Agricultural Practices in Nairobi County

Abstract

The study examined the sustainable potential of urban and peri-urban agricultural practices in Nairobi. The study employed purposive, stratified and random sampling methods to select 149 respondents. Frequencies, means and standard deviations were used to analyse data. Findings indicate that the most popular urban and peri-urban practices were composting (221), open field farming (212), vegetable nurseries (155) and various forms of irrigation (140). Animal based practices were not found to be very popular. Majority of
the practices were concentrated in the peri-urban areas. Popular practices were not found to be the most profitable. The most profitable practices were cattle rearing raising approximately Ksh.650,000, mushroom farming (Ksh.500,000), chicken rearing (Ksh.500,000), and hydroponics production (Ksh.450,000). These unpopular practices required expensive inputs, specialised  technological and management skills and a controlled agricultural environment for production and efficient use of resources. These
requirements qualified them to contribute towards the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability. There is need for a transformation from the current popular, less profitable and environmentally unfriendly practices categorized as uncontrolled environment agriculture practices to the controlled environment agriculture practices. This can be achieved through the provision of subsidised inputs and specialised technological and management skills to the farmers by the county government and other relevant stakeholders. This change with policy support will contribute to using sustainable agricultural practices that ensure food security and contribute to a sustainable food system in the city.

Key words: Urban and peri-urban agriculture, sustainable agricultural practices, Nairobi County.