Assessing urban agricultural enterprises and their effect on food security in cities : a case study of Mbarara city south, western Uganda

Abstract

Urban agriculture in new cities is key and should be part and parcel of any sustainable urban physical plan but, most urban physical plans in Uganda never include urban agriculture in their urban physical plans. This is because there is limited or no information about how much contribution different urban agricultural enterprises make towards the food security of urban dwellers. This study was about urban agriculture and food security among urban household farmers in Mbarara City south division. The specific objectives included; to examine the effect of urban animal farming on food security among urban households, assess the effect of urban poultry farming on food security among urban households, analyze the effect of urban arable farming on food security among urban households and assess the effect of multiple urban agricultural enterprises on food security among urban household farmers in Mbarara City south division. A cross-sectional design using both quantitative and qualitative methods was used for data collection and analysis. Data was corrected from 307 respondents sampled using proportionate and stratified strategies using questionnaires, direct observation and interviews. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, binomial statistical test and Pearson chi-square basing on a scientific scale called Household Food Access Scale. If the P-value was less than 0.05 to food security indicator, it meant that there was significant difference but when the P. value was above 0.05 to food security indicator, it meant that there was no significant difference. Results showed that majority of urban household farmers who practiced urban animal farming ,urban poultry farming and multiple urban agricultural enterprises were mildly food insecure while, majority of urban household farmers who practiced urban arable farming were food secure. Therefore, urban arable farming was the most efficient practice while urban poultry farming was the least efficient practice. The study concludes that urban arable farming should be encouraged among urban household farmers since it promoted food security to the division compared to other enterprises in Mbarara city south. Therefore, programmes to encourage urban arable farming should be emphasized by urban physical planners of the city by showing that it can be practiced in sacks, rooftops, small plots, containers and verandas.