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Creating Space: Sack Gardening as a Livelihood Strategy in the Kibera Slums of Nairobi, Kenya

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  • Gallaher, Courtney M.
  • WinklerPrins, Antoinette M. G. A.
  • Njenga, Mary
  • Karanja, Nancy K.

Abstract

As many countries in sub-Saharan Africa undergo rapid urbanization, a growing number of people are joining the ranks of the urban poor. Urban agriculture is a livelihood strategy used by the poor to improve their well-being, but it has remained largely inaccessible to inhabitants of slums, who generally lack access to land to farm. However, in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya, a relatively new form of urban agriculture has emerged, called sack gardening, in which farmers plant crops into the sides and tops of large sacks of soil. Our research asked how participation in sack gardening served to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. We demonstrate that urban agriculture can be a viable and important livelihood strategy for households, even in densely populated slum environments. Low-space urban agricultural activities like sack gardening should receive greater consideration as part of urban development initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Gallaher, Courtney M. & WinklerPrins, Antoinette M. G. A. & Njenga, Mary & Karanja, Nancy K., 2015. "Creating Space: Sack Gardening as a Livelihood Strategy in the Kibera Slums of Nairobi, Kenya," Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, Center for Transformative Action, Cornell University, vol. 5(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:joafsc:359673
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Courtney Gallaher & John Kerr & Mary Njenga & Nancy Karanja & Antoinette WinklerPrins, 2013. "Urban agriculture, social capital, and food security in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 30(3), pages 389-404, September.
    2. Mark Montgomery & Michele Gragnolati & Kathleen Burke & Edmundo Paredes, 2000. "Measuring living standards with proxy variables," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 37(2), pages 155-174, May.
    3. Maxwell, Daniel G., 1995. "Alternative food security strategy: A household analysis of urban agriculture in Kampala," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(10), pages 1669-1681, October.
    4. Rachel Slater, 2001. "Urban agriculture, gender and empowerment: An alternative view," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(5), pages 635-650.
    5. Narayan, Deepa & Pritchett, Lant, 1999. "Cents and Sociability: Household Income and Social Capital in Rural Tanzania," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 47(4), pages 871-897, July.
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