The contribution of urban agriculture in boosting food security and income generation

Table of Contents

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Statement of the problem

1.3 Objectives of the study

1.3.1 General objective

1.3.2 Specific objectives

1.4 Justification

1.5 Study area

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Food Security

2.2 Overview of Food Security in Zimbabwe

2.4 Overview of Urban Agriculture

2.6 How UA influence household food security using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS)

2.6.1 Methods of measuring household food security

2.6.2 Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS)

2.7 Legislation governing the practice of UA in Zimbabwe

2.7.1 The Urban Councils Act, Chapter 29:15

2.7.2 Regional Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 29:12

2.7.3 Environmental Management, Act Chapter 20:27

2.7.4 The Forest Act Chapter, 19:05

2.8 Challenges faced in UA

2.9 Knowledge gap

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1. Introduction

3.2 Research Design

3.3 Target Population

3.4 Sample Size Determination

3.5 Methods of Data Collection

3.5.1 Questionnaires

3.5.2 Interviews

3.5.3 Field Observations

3.5.4 Secondary Data

3.7 Data analysis and presentation

3.6 Ethical considerations

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the households

4.2.1 Response rate

4.2.2Gener of respondents

4.2.3 Age of respondents

4.2.4 Marital status and household heads

4.2.5 Household size

4.2.6 Occupation status

4.3 Determining the contribution of UA to household food security and income (specific objective 1)

4.3.1 Respondents engaging in urban agriculture

4.3.2 Types of crops grown

4.3.3 Average yield per crop

4.3.4 Livestock kept and their estimated yields

4.3.7: Quantity of food consumed

4.4 Examining Challenges faced by urban farmers (specific objective 2)

4.5 Influence of urban agriculture on household food security as determined by the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS)

4.5.1. Households’ anxiety and uncertainty about food supply

4.5.2 Households consuming poor quality food

4.5.3 Households with insufficient quantities of food

4.5.4 Household Food Insecurity Access Score (HFIAS) and household food insecurity Prevalence (Coates et al 2006)

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Recommendations

Research Objectives and Focus

The primary objective of this study is to assess the role of urban agriculture in enhancing household food security and income generation for residents in Ward 21 of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, specifically investigating the challenges faced by local practitioners.

• Impact of urban agriculture on household food availability and income.
• Identification of common crops and livestock managed by urban farmers.
• Application of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to measure food security levels.
• Analysis of institutional and practical constraints, such as land tenure, water shortages, and by-laws.
• Proposed strategies for improving sustainable urban agricultural productivity.

Excerpt from the Book

Chapter Summaries

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the background of urban agriculture, identifies the research problem regarding food insecurity in Ward 21, and outlines the study's specific objectives and justification.

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW: This section reviews existing theories and empirical studies on food security and urban agriculture, covering the legislative framework in Zimbabwe and methodologies for assessing household food security.

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The chapter details the case study research design, including data collection methods such as questionnaires, interviews, and field observations, and justifies the use of HFIAS for data analysis.

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: This section presents the empirical data gathered from Ward 21, analyzing household demographics, agricultural practices, income generation, and the influence of UA on food security levels.

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This final chapter synthesizes the study's findings and offers policy recommendations to improve urban agriculture, including land use planning and improved resource support for farmers.

Keywords

Urban Agriculture, Food Security, Income Generation, Household, Bulawayo, Ward 21, HFIAS, Livelihoods, Crop Cultivation, Livestock, Poverty Alleviation, Land Tenure, Sustainable Development, Smallholder Farmers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this dissertation?

The research examines how urban agriculture contributes to household food security and income generation for the residents of Ward 21 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

What are the central themes of this research?

The central themes include food security measurement, urban farming practices, socio-economic challenges, and the impact of local government policies on urban agricultural activities.

What is the main objective of this work?

The primary goal is to assess the specific role urban agriculture plays in boosting household food supply and income, while also identifying the constraints faced by local farmers.

Which methodology was employed in this study?

The researcher adopted a case study design utilizing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, including surveys with 378 households, key informant interviews, and direct field observations.

What does the main body of the research cover?

The main body covers the demographic profile of respondents, types of crops and livestock produced, income generated from farming, and a detailed analysis of food security using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS).

Which keywords best characterize this research?

Key terms include Urban Agriculture, Food Security, HFIAS, Bulawayo, Ward 21, Income Generation, and agricultural policy.

What role does the HFIAS play in this study?

The HFIAS is utilized as a standard survey instrument to measure the level of food insecurity experienced by households, allowing the researcher to categorize them from food-secure to severely insecure.

What are some of the key challenges identified for urban farmers in Ward 21?

The study highlights significant barriers, including land tenure insecurity, water shortages, theft of produce, and restrictive municipal by-laws.

What is the conclusion regarding the contribution of urban agriculture?

The research concludes that urban agriculture is a vital survival strategy that significantly improves food security for the majority of surveyed households in Ward 21.

What policy recommendations does the author propose?

The author suggests providing agricultural loans, increasing technical extension services, reforming land use policies to allow for secure tenure, and enhancing community-driven security to protect crops from theft.