Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Nutrition knowledge
The results of the baseline survey showed that of the 300 respondents, 49.7
per cent had no knowledge of macronutrients (carbohydrates and proteins)
or micronutrients (vitamin A and iron). Approximately 30 per cent knew
what carbohydrates, proteins, vitamin A and iron were, and could give
their sources. However, out of the 30 respondents selected for intervention,
15 (50 per cent) had no idea about any of the macro- or micronutrients.
After training, of these 30 respondents who were taught about
carbohydrates, proteins, vitamin A and iron and their sources, nine (20 per
cent) still showed no knowledge of them. After re-examining respondents'
educational
levels,
it was discovered they had never gone to school and,
therefore,
they had a limited ability to recall
the topic of
the training
session.
Attitudes towards urban farming
The respondents were given statements that represented attitudes towards UA
and were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with them. In the baseline
survey, 97 per cent expressed positive attitudes. All 30 households both before
and after intervention had positive attitudes towards urban farming and all
thought it represented a good thing. They recommended their neighbours
should consider adopting it as it enhanced household food supply. Also, they
noted that the government should support urban farming. Therefore, the
research showed that stakeholders in the area of UPAL should collaborate
with the urban and peri-urban residents to push UPAL into the national policy
agenda.
Farming Practices
Household food production systems
According to the results of the baseline survey, there was either no farming, or
else little or unorganized farming being done. Focus-group discussions
revealed that residents could not grow crops on their plots because livestock
destroyed them as they could not afford fencing materials. The most
vulnerable households selected for interventions were provided with fencing
materials and were only expected to provide labour for fencing,
land
preparation, planting and managing the crops.
The 30 households chosen for intervention had neither crops nor small
livestock. After intervention, identified food-production systems included
subsistence farming systems and market-oriented crop production, where 46
per cent of the intervention households practised the latter type of farming.
All 30 households produced crops and reared small livestock - such livestock
were chosen because they required low inputs in terms of space and feeding.
Moreover, the Nairobi City Council by-laws allow rearing of small livestock
unless someone complains of a nuisance. In fact, during the intervention
process, the 30 households received cockerels and chickens or ducks, which
the project team delivered. In addition, the National Livestock Extension
