The Agricultural and Rural Development Study Center of the Policy Studies Institute released the preliminary findings of the study "Situational Analysis of Urban Agriculture in Ethiopia" on February 21, 2023, at the premises of PSI. The research team led by Dr. Ashagrie Gibtan and his colleagues Dr. Wondwosen Abera and Mr.Mekuria Delelegn(Ph.D. fellow), presented the different sections of the study.
Dr. Ashagrie Gibtan said that urban agriculture (UA) plays an important role in the context of the socio-economic and environmental development of urban centers. However, it remains an underdeveloped sector in Ethiopia. Therefore, it is important to understand its situation to identify the gaps and take the necessary actions. Dr. Ashagrie said this study aimed to assess and provide insights into the situation of UA practice in Ethiopia. The study project aims to: a) identify key UA practices and their challenges b) assess the socio-economic and environmental contributions of UA c) identify socio-economic factors influencing UA practices in urban centers d) assess relevant experiences of other countries (benchmarking countries) in light of Ethiopian conditions e) analyze policies, strategies and institutional/administrative support gaps in promoting UA practices f) derive policy implications and recommend possible policy options to demystify UA in Ethiopia.
Dr. Wondwosen Abera explained that the study analyzed both primary and secondary data. Primary data were obtained through surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. The collection of land use and land cover changes was also used to analyze the challenges faced by the sector due to pressures from rapid urban development growth. Primary data were collected from practitioners and stakeholders (UA directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture, UA directorate of the administration of the cities studied, Urban Development and Infrastructure, institutions for small and micro enterprises or cooperatives, and environmental protection agencies). Secondary data from published and unpublished materials and selected policy and strategic documents were used/analyzed. Key documents reviewed for the study included the Central Statistical Agency (CSA) of Ethiopia report, Ethiopia's Agricultural Sector Policy and Investment Framework (PIF) 2010-2020, FDRE's Food and Nutrition Policy (2018), the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agricultural Extension Strategy (2017), and FDRE's Urban Agriculture Development Strategy for Urban Development and Construction (2019).
Mekuria Delelegn(Ph.D. fellow), then, presented the main findings of the study: the agricultural activities practiced in each of the urban centers studied mainly reflect the climate and soil characteristics of the area, i.e. Hawassa (dairy farming), Bahir Dar (dairy farming, horticulture, viticulture) and Bishftu (poultry), Adama (fattening and dairy farming), as well as horticulture and poultry, are widespread in Addis Ababa city. However, horticulture is the most widespread (it is practiced in varying intensity in almost all urban centers), followed by dairy and poultry farming. Many of the UA practitioners engaged in the activity in inner and outer urban areas mainly as additional work to earn extra income. The amount of income farmers earned was significantly influenced by farming experience, family size, the land tenure system, and access to credit and extension services.
Mr. Mekuria said that there are different systems of access to land and land tenure. Access and use of farmland in inner-city agriculture are either owned or provided by the government, but in peri-urban areas, access to farmland is mainly through the lease. UA plays an important role in improving food security for UA farmers and in enhancing income and employment opportunities for practitioners. UA practitioners can regularly get fresh UA production with their meals and diversify their diets, especially those who practice horticulture. Although there are many opportunities for organic agriculture in Ethiopia, such as the presence of a large labor force, different climate and soil types, and ground and surface water potential, the sector faces several obstacles.
Mr. Mekuria explained that there is a gap in providing the necessary support for organic farming sufficiently and sustainably: Lack of credit, inputs (fertilizers, herbicides, medicines, selected seeds), extension services, organic farming policies and strategies, due attention to urban plans for organic farming, and lack of well-organized and empowered institutions that have a good structure at all levels of government to lead organic farming were identified as the main barriers to organic farming in Ethiopia. In addition, insecure land tenure and expensive land rent, lack of efficient training, follow-up, and poor access to technologies (lack of labor and land saving technologies, e.g., improvement/expansion of various vertical UA techniques), and access to sufficient pure water are challenges for UA in Ethiopia. Therefore, necessary actions should be taken in the areas of land, water, technology, finance, and institutional support.
H.E. Professor Beyene Petros, Director General of PSI, also raised questions and suggestions for the study. Professor Beyene urged the researchers to read each other as PSI has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Adis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority. Professor Beyene advised the researchers to reduce the huge chunk of the document. He also pointed out that nowadays consumers often ask where the vegetables and fruits come from, and they have a high perception of urban agriculture. Consumers may be concerned about chemical poisoning and other problems. Professor Beyene also asked about the role of urban agriculture in job creation and advised the researchers to study urban agriculture in terms of the many terraces in Addis Ababa's high-rise buildings. Professor Beyene said that cities are expanding and this expansion sometimes leads to conflict as it displaces farmers. Prof. Beyene said UA should be seen as an alternative way to prevent encroachment on urban land. Finally, Professor Beyene advised the researchers to write a policy brief.
Other participants urged the researchers to reconsider their data and related conclusions. They said the data and respective conclusions should be written separately. Participants also urged researchers to show the contribution of urban agriculture to the national economy. They commented that urban agriculture is an emerging topic, but the recommendations of the study are too specific, so participants asked the researchers to be brief in making core recommendations. A participant also asked that there are many better-off families in Addis Ababa having 500 and 1000 square meters as residential houses; however, these people are not willing to practice urban agriculture; he said the study should also focus on the people’s mindset on urban agriculture.
Participants asked about the dichotomous division between urban and rural agriculture. They asked how the recommendations drawn from this sample can be generalized as long as the sample is limited to the inner-city area. They also asked that land, water, and institutional support are so expensive in urban areas and why people practice urban agriculture. They also asked researchers to make their recommendations broader than being specific and detailed. Participants also asked the researchers to include beekeeping as a form of urban agriculture in their study.
H.E. Mr. Alebel Dessie, Deputy Director of PSI, said that the main role of PSI is to make policy recommendations to the government, so the samples to be taken by researchers must be large. Mr. Alebel said that we need to take a large sample; however, we can limit the scope; yet, we need to be strong in our study. He added that we should organize a roundtable discussion with high-level experts before all PSI's studies are presented here. Participants also advised researchers to take large samples from the east and west of the country. They also asked researchers to be aware that urban agriculture in the city means that the homestead and office areas are separate.
Finally, the researchers pointed out that this study was a baseline study limited to a few areas. They added that some of the issues raised were related to the baseline study. They also indicated that they would release the policy brief with all comments. They agreed to consider most of the suggestions and questions for refining the final recommendations.