The Role of Urban Vegetable Production to the Livelihoods Enhancement of Producers in Addis Ababa: Examination of Food, Employment and Income Effects

Abstract

For urban agriculture to make a significant contribution to development, particularly in a city like Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where chronic poverty persists, it must present feasible, sustainable business opportunities in addition to its established social benefits. Ultimately, this research intends to investigate how vegetable production has helped supplement the food and income of dwellers in the urban areas of the Addis Ababa metropolitan area. Both qualitative and quantitative data were used. Household quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results disclosed, people in Addis Ababa use vegetable production as a source of food stability to ensure self-sustainability. Further, the creation of job opportunities in vegetable cultivation in the city allows the unemployed and even employed groups to participate. There is no academic criterion required, which makes it easier for people with low or no education to engage in vegetable production. According to 99.2% of respondents, vegetable production activities provide fresh food for their households. Per production, 41.9% of respondents earned up to 10,000 birr.  For farm activities, 30.7% of vegetable producers hire up to ten employees, while seeds and pesticides are more expensive inputs than other necessary items. The multivariate analysis showed that households that earn around 10,000 birr per production were significantly affected by farming in residential areas (p = 0.008). Surveys conducted reveal that households are more concerned about food consumption than using their products to profit.

Keywords:Food security; urban farming; Addis Ababa; urban economy; urban employment; socioeconomic development

DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/82-03

Publication date:July 31^st 2023