Urban Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation: A Case Study of Tokhaarea, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Urban agriculture (UA) is the production and management of crops and livestock/poultry in the urban or periphery area, especially to meet local needs. This study was carried out to assess and analyze the UA in terms of urban food security and employment in Tokha, Kathmandu in February-April, 2006. Primary data and information were collected through sample survey applying snowball sampling technique, considering the households with more than 4 Ropany (0.2 ha)of farmland as sampling units in three urban pockets-one road accessible pocket (Saraswoti), second one less accessible pocket with Chandeshwori settlement,and the last one isolated pocket (Sapnatirtha), followed by observation and key informant discussions which includes total 64/64 household surveys and observations (20 in Saraswoti, 24in Chandeshwori and 20 in Sapnatirtha) using structured questionnaire and observation sheet. The study reveals that total 51.05%, 52.17% and 42.21% individuals of the farm families were involved in the agricultural occupation in Saraswoti, Chandeshwori and Sapanatirtha pockets respectively. The other sectors of employment and income in Tokha include service sector, trade/business, waged labor (specially construction works) and foreign employment(mainly in Quatar, Saudi Arab and Malaysia). The analysis of farmers' responses to agriculture shows that agriculture was the means of full employment and income for 48.44% of the families surveyed; partial employment for 45.31%; additional income for more than 4.69%; and as the means to use spare time for only 1.56% families. χ iv 2 test statistic shows that agricultural occupation pattern (%) in the three selected pockets was not significantly different, but there spondents' attitude with regard to agricultural occupation was significantly different, with higher reliance to agriculture in the inaccessible isolated areas than in accessible urban area.The patterns of nutrition supply to the urban farmers reveals that up to 75.38% food supplyoccurs by purchasing food from others, followed by consuming own product (up to 68.20%) andselling over surplus agro-food products (up to 33.33%). Significant positive correlations were observed between selling over surplus and landholding (r= 0.712); family size and involvement in farm occupation (r=0.819); and farm and non-farm occupation (r=0.278). Whereas,significant negative correlations were observed between cereal production and irrigationproblem (r=-0.293); urban facility and agricultural production trend (r =-0.25); and cereal and vegetable production (r =-0.289). Multiple linear regression models of vegetable production wasobserved significant with location (inaccessibility index) and irrigation problem index (p=000). The analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and regression analysis of observed dataand information indicate that if there is access to road, market and other facilities, agriculture will also become commercialized and people will search for alternatives to agricultural occupation. The analysis of farmers' priority to development functions shows that most of the people in the urban area emphasized to industrial and educational development followed by drinking water, road, trade/business and agricultural integration for overall development of thelocation. Agricultural problem ranking shows that lack of irrigation facilities was the mostcrucial problem for the development of agriculture in Tokha. Other major problems include thelack of modern inputs and technologies, decreased interest of youth in agriculture occupation,inadequate road network and financial problems. The organizations supporting agricultural activities and the potentials of integrated development of agriculture in Tokha has been assessedand analyzed with suggestions and recommendations for reducing urban poverty and food in security. The major suggestions include promoting irrigation facilities; market oriented organic vegetable production; in-depth study for fruit growing and beekeeping promotion; and strengthening agricultural extension services with proper sustainable urban farming policies for promoting urban food security and employment. Fanindra Raj Devkota Author