The Effect Peri- Urban Farming on Food Security among Smallholder Farmers in Mbarara Municipality

Abstract

The study determined the effect peri- urban farming on food security among smallholder farmers in Mbarara Municipality. The specific objectives included to; identify and document the different kinds of agro-enterprises owned by urban farmers; assess the extent of adaptation by farmers to the limited spaces in the peri-urban areas, assess the contribution of peri-urban agriculture towards household food demand and food security, and analyze the challenges faced by peri urban farmers of Mbarara Municipality. A cross-sectional design using both quantitative and qualitative methods was used for data collection and analysis. Data was captured from 174 respondents using questionnaire and interviews. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The crop enterprises owned by farmers in the peri-urban areas of Mbarara municipality included maize, vegetables, bananas, fruits and beans. More so livestock enterprises included poultry, cattle, pigs and goats. Farmers of Mbarara municipality used the limited land spaces by carrying out intensive crop production in backyards (compound gardens), along roadsides, tins, pots, sacks and polythene bags or renting land. They had also adjusted to space-constrained livestock systems like small piggery units, zero-grazing, tethering in home compounds, and the keeping of poultry, both in cages and free range, on verandas. Peri-urban farming had a significant role on household food demand and food security by improving food access, stability, availability, food use and utilization, access to diversified and notorious food varieties. Peri-urban farmers of the area were constrained by significant challenges like space, pests and diseases, limited access to credit, seasonality, un-availability of labour, water scarcity, shortage of feeds and pastures as well as lack of market. The study concluded that peri- urban farming had an effect on food security of smallholder farmers though still hampered by different challenges. It was recommended that farmers be trained on aspects of pests and disease control, use of household organic waste as manure, use of high yielding varieties, irrigation, and marketing aspects of commercially viable crops, particularly vegetables. This would help in doubling production which is usually constrained by different factors. In addition, improving access to credit would help farmers establish critical infrastructures such as water reservoirs and agro-inputs, which would facilitate urban farming.