Urban Agriculture in Thika, Kenya: the case of Small Ruminant Production in the Perspective of the Sustainable Livelihood Framework

Despite the millenary practice of urban agriculture (UA) in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities, research conducted on the topic is much more recent and still little is known on the impact UA has on the engaged households in terms of food security, nutrition and health. The overall picture that emerges from the literature is one of stark contrasts; some advocate UA as a tool of empowerment, capable to eradicate hunger and poverty for the most vulnerable, while others do not consider UA as a way for sustainable development. With the help of qualitative interviews and informal dialogues this study investigates on some aspects of UA as seen from the perspective of 33 small ruminants urban farmers in the medium-sized city of Thika in inland Kenya. Moreover, an interview with the local livestock authority and two extension officers further clarifies the understanding of urban farming practices and environment in the city also from a governmental perspective. An analysis of these interviews using the Sustainable Development Approach renders the urban farmers’ own perception of the benefits of engaging in small ruminants production within the city, as well as of the limitations in conducting it. Urban farming, besides creating additional income and/or additional food to urban households, contributes also in three other different ways, including (1) the improvement of resiliency towards external factors (e.g. food price fluctuations), (2) the improvement of self-sufficiency (e.g. rely less on food transfers) and (3) the easiness in selling the agricultural production (at farm-gates or local markets). Being part of a growing body of research on UA practices, the present study’s purpose is to explore and analyze the role of urban agriculture in contributing to food security, within the larger framework of sustainable development in SSA. By using a largely new and untapped source of oral histories on urban farming practices, this project also aims to contribute to future research on similar topics