The Nexus between Urban Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation in Zimbabwe’s Cities: A Case of Kadoma City

Abstract

A study was carried out in Eiffel Flats suburb in Kadoma City to investigate the impact of urban agriculture on poverty alleviation. The objectives of the study were to investigate major reasons behind urban agriculture (UA), establishing social classes and gender involved and identifying the relationship between urban agriculture and a subsequent poverty reduction. A sample size of 98 respondents was randomly chosen from the sample. Questionnaires, personal interviews and observation were used for data collection. The major reasons behind urban agriculture were: low incomes, unemployment and large families. The study revealed that UA alleviated poverty because residents produce food, generate income from surplus and save household income which is channeled to other needs. The age group of 31-60 with women dominating was most active in the practice and both the employed and unemployed were involved in UA.  Kadoma city council supports UA by creating agro-zones. The major limitations of UA in Eiffel Flats are land shortage and inadequate resources such as inputs and draft power. The council is recommended to create more agro-zones and to register farmers with AGRITEX department so that they could benefit from government supplied inputs as well as technical knowhow from the local extension services.

Keywords: nexus, poverty alleviation, urban agriculture