GARDEN OWNERSHIP AS A SOLUTION TO FOOD INSECURITY IN URBAN AREAS OF SOUTH AFRICA: CASE OF FOOD GARDENS IN ALICE TOWN, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Abstract
Programs like Siyazondla Homestead Gardens, Siyakhula and Massive Food Production Program were introduced by the provincial government of the Eastern Cape province with the aim of improving household food production, nutrition and food security. However, full ownership of food gardens by households has been a challenge. Thus, this paper investigates the factors influencing the ownership of home gardens by Alice Town households. Households in Alice Town, Eastern Cape province were purposively selected for data collection, and a structured questionnaire was employed. A binary logistic regression model was adopted to determine the factors that influence food gardens ownership among the sampled households. Results show that three variables that influenced food gardens ownership were location, land access and education level. These variables had a significance level of 5%. The paper concludes that having access to food gardens by city dwellers can help improve their food security status. However, owning a garden is a challenge due to the variables highlighted. Thus, it is important to promote associations in urban areas and provide training and workshops that can improve the productivity of home garden owners. This is how access to better nutrition and safe, rich and fresh vegetables can be achieved.
Keywords
food gardens; poverty; food security; Eastern Cape province
References
Ashby, J. (1981). New models of agricultural research and extension: The need to integrate women. In: B. C. Lewis (ed.), Invisible farmers: Women and the crisis in agriculture, Washington DC: USAID.
Bagson, E., Wuleka Kuuder, C.-J. (2013). Assessment of a Smallscale Irrigation Scheme on Household Food Security and Leisure in Kokoligu; Ghana. Res. Humanit. Soc. Sci., 3. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281271410_Assessment_of_a_Smallscale_Irrigation_Scheme_on_Household_Food_Security_and_Leisure_in_Kokoligu_Ghana
Baiphethi, M. N., Jacobs, P. T. (2009). The Contribution of Subsistence Farming to Food Security in South Africa. Agrekon., 48(4), 342–346.
Baiyegunhi, L. J. (2014). Determinants of rainwater harvesting technology (RWHT) adoption for home gardening in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Discip. Agric. Econ., 41(1), 33–40.
Drimie, S., Ruysenaar, B. (2010). The Integrated Food Security Strategy of South Africa: An institutional analysis. Agrekon, 49(3), 316–333.
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) (1996). Rome Declaration on World Food Security and World Food Summit Plan of Action. World Food Summit 13–17 November 1996, Rome.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) (2012). Food in Cities. Retrieved July 22nd 2016 from: http://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/012/ak824e/ak824e00.pdf
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) (2018). Urban agriculture. Retrieved May 18th 2018 from: http://www.fao.org/urban-agriculture/en
Ferdous, P. (2016). Urban agriculture and ecological citizenship in Philadelphia. Local Env., 15(6), 581–590.
Gichunge, C., Kidwaro, F. (2014). Refugees and cultivating new roots in urban communities. J. Inter. Rel., 20(3), 77–86. Retrieved September 3rd 2017 from: http://www.sirjournal.org/research/2016/2/24/cultivating-new-rootsin-urban-communities
Gujarati, D. N. (2003). Basic Econometrics (4th Ed.). NewYork: McGraw Hill.
Kleinbaum, D. G. (1994). Logistic regression: A self-learning text. New York: Springer-Verlag
Matebeni, F. (2018). Measuring rural household food security in the Nkonkobe local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Master of Science Dissertation, University of Stellenbosch.
Mcata, B. (2013). The role of home gardens in enhancing food security in rural and urban areas: A case study of Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape – South Africa. Master of Science Dissertation, University of Fort Hare.
Monde, N., Fraser, G., Botha, J. J., Anderson, K. (2006). Making home gardening a viable option in rural areas of South Africa: The case study of Guquka and Khayalethu in central Eastern Cape. Retrieved August 11th 2017 from: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gem/Conference%20Procceedings/Track5Papers/Monde%20Track5%20EMSU%20paper%20FinalComplete.pdf
Montshwe, D. B. (2006). Factors affecting participation in mainstream cattle markets by small-scale cattle farmers in South Africa. Master of Science Dissertation, University of Free State.
Mqikela, N. (2014). The Impact of Land and Agrarian Reforms On Poverty Alleviation: Lessons From The Jay Dee Rovon Workers Trust And Mon Desire In Joubertina, Eastern Cape-South Africa. Publishing Master of Agriculture Dissertation. University of Fort Hare.
Mtolo, A. (2016). Food security and coping strategies of an urban community in Durban. Master Of Applied Science Dissertation, Durban University Of Technology.
Muchara, B. (2010). Analysis of food value chain in smallholder crop and livestock enterprises in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. MSc Thesis (Unpublished). University of Fort Hare.
RDAR (Rural Development and Agrarian reform) (2016). Agricultural and Development potential in the Eastern Cape.
Retrieved July 15, 2018 from: http://www.erln.co.za/images/jevents/57d67fc3564611.19113462.pdf
Rubin, M. (2011). Reducing the vulnerability of urban SlumsDwellers in the Southern African Region to the Impact of Climate Change and Disasters. Retrieved May 24, 2018 from: http://www.urbanlandmark.org.za/downloads/concept_paper_cc_vulnerability.pdf
Sanyé-Mengual, E., Anguelovski, I., Oliver-Solà, J., Montero, J. I., Rieradevall, J. (2016). Resolving differing stakeholder perceptions of urban rooftop farming in Mediterranean cities: promoting food production as a driver for innovative forms of urban agriculture. Agric. Human Values, 33(1), 11–120. Retrieved May 18th 2018 from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-015-9594-y
Seti, S. (2003). Subsistence Gardening for Food Security: A Case Study of Three Townships in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province. Retrieved May 22nd 2010 from: http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:qkkBVWyju_0J:www.fhiser.org.za/Workingpapers/53Seti.pdf
Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2017). Poverty Trends in South Africa: An examination of absolute poverty between 2006 & 2015. Retrieved June 18th 2018 from: http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=10341
Tacoli, C., McGranahan, G., Satterthwaite, D. (2015). Urbanization,rural-urban migration and urban poverty. Retrieved June 18th 2018 from: https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/our_work/ICP/MPR/WMR-2015-Background-Paper-CTacoli-GMcGranahan-DSatterthwaite.pdf
Tynsong, H., Tiwari, B. K. (2010). Plant Diversity in the Home gardens and their Significance in the Livelihoods of War Khasi Community of Meghalaya North-east India.
Retrieved April 11th 2016 from: http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JBD/JBD-01-0-000-10-Web/JBD-01-1-000-10-Abst-PDF/JBD-01-1-001-10-006-Tynsong-H/JBD-01-1-001-10-006-Tynsong-H-Tt.pdf
UNISDR (2015). Poorly planned and managed urban development. Retrieved June 18th 2018 from: https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/poorly-planned-managed-urbandevelopment
Young, J. (2013). Investing in the Eastern Cape. Retrieved June 18th 2016 from: https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/investments-immigration/business/investing/opportunities/investing-in-the-eastern-cape
Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), South Africa South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6066-4007
This journal permits and encourages authors to post items submitted to the journal on personal websites or institutional repositories both prior to and after publication, while providing bibliographic details that credit, if applicable, its publication in this journal.
