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.