Challenges and Opportunities of Riverbank Urban Agriculture: The Case of Mekanisa, Gofa and Saris Vegetable Producer Cooperative
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2010-06
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Abstract
This thesis sought to assess and analyze challenges and prospects of riverbank urban
agriculture in one cooperative vegetable producer along Little Akaki River of Addis
Ababa city. The study was basically an assessment that used both qualitative and
quantitative approaches. Sample household from a total of 241 urban farmers randomly
selected and nine key interview persons were selected by using purposive sampling from
relevant government organizations. A structured questionnaire, interview guiding
questions, photography, document analysis, and satellite images were methods and tools
of data collection. The finding of the study indicates that urban agriculture activity in the
study area has an impact on the natural environment especially;on soil erosion and
water pollution as well as pose health risk due to contamination of vegetables with toxic
substances.. Informal occupation of reserved area for urban agriculture by squatters as
well as urban agriculture activities in protected area for other green development and
uses are the two major challenges observed in the study area. The contribution of urban
agriculture in the city includes employment creation for more than 3807 household heads
and benefits more than 14,544 family members. It also serves as poverty reduction
strategy for the disadvantage group of the society such as women, elder and youths who
do not have job at the moment. The benefits of urban agriculture in the selected
cooperative shows that it is the survival livelihood for 241 household heads and 2,500
family members. Vegetable growing along river both in the city and the cooperative more
challengeable as domestic and industrial waste management are very poor and the
spatial location of industries and garage close to the river. Recognizing and providing
tenure security of the existing urban farmers is the primary solution for the challenges in
the study area. However, in order to enforce the city structure plan, commercial forests
and fruit trees should substitute the existing vegetable farms. Moreover, capacitating
urban agriculture units in the city can solve technical and other problems which urban
farmers face in the study area
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Case of Mekanisa, Gofa