Determinants of Participation in Urban Horticultural Technologies in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Food insecurity and, poor water and sanitation issues are among the challenges that urban and peri-urban communities face more often. A number of urban households engage in horticulture to address their food insecurity needs and also for sale. However, the understanding on urban farmer’s choice of existing horticultural technologies is lacking. This study sought to determine the factors that influence the farmers’ participation in select urban horticultural production technologies. Data were collected from 385 respondents spread across four sub-counties in the city using a survey questionnaire. The questionnaires survey collected information on respondents’ demographic characteristics, information on social-economic, institutional characteristics and information on technological awareness of the respondents. The study considered six selected technologies; rooftop/balconies, open field, vertical gardens, pallet gardening, green house and hydroponics. Descriptive statistics, principal components analysis and a multivariate probit regression model were used to analyze data. The findings indicates that there was a general low participation in roof top, greenhouse and hydroponic technologies. Multivariate probit results shows that age of the respondent was significant and positively related to open field while negatively related to vertical garden. The level of income of respondents influenced all production systems under consideration. The use of greenhouse production technology was influenced by the land ownership. Institutional characteristics and extension services are other factors that influenced participation in urban horticultural technologies. The findings are of importance to policy makers, National and County governments in identifying areas of policy innervations and various mechanisms meant to promote urban horticultural technologies for sustainable food security. Key words: urban horticulture, determinants factors, horticultural technologies, food insecurity