1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
Urban agriculture in Nairobi is practiced in backyard farms, on open spaces under power lines, along roadsides, railway
lines and riverbanks as well as on institutional land. In the mid 1980s, when the urban population reached one million mark, 20% of Nairobi households were growing crops and 17% kept livestock within the city limits. It is estimated that 30% of households in Nairobi are involved in urban farming. The present project has as goals the following:
1. To create social value by the promotion of value-chain development and direct producer– consumer marketing.
2. To provide pluvial flood regulation: Outdoor urban farms increase the amount of pervious surface, and can capture, store, and infiltrate rainwater, reducing runoff.
3. To provide heat regulation: Urban agricultural areas reduce urban heat by creating shade and have an ameliorating effect on the immediate local climate, and in the case of arid climates, increased humidity.
4. To promote the sack gardening technique.
5. To impact biodiversity at all levels: insects, crops, opportunistic plants etc. (1,2,3,4,5)
lines and riverbanks as well as on institutional land. In the mid 1980s, when the urban population reached one million mark, 20% of Nairobi households were growing crops and 17% kept livestock within the city limits. It is estimated that 30% of households in Nairobi are involved in urban farming. The present project has as goals the following:
1. To create social value by the promotion of value-chain development and direct producer– consumer marketing.
2. To provide pluvial flood regulation: Outdoor urban farms increase the amount of pervious surface, and can capture, store, and infiltrate rainwater, reducing runoff.
3. To provide heat regulation: Urban agricultural areas reduce urban heat by creating shade and have an ameliorating effect on the immediate local climate, and in the case of arid climates, increased humidity.
4. To promote the sack gardening technique.
5. To impact biodiversity at all levels: insects, crops, opportunistic plants etc. (1,2,3,4,5)
Quantitative targets
Including 10-13 areas of the slum in the project by spreading thousands of sack gardens in those zones: Makina, Mashimoni, Laini, Saba, Soweto East, Lindi, Silanga, Soweto West, Kianda, Gatwekera, and Kisumu Ndogo
Targeting a population of approx. 700,000 people
Raising the quality of life and the income of the locals to approx. 50 Eur/month as of 2015
Starting with a pack of 100,000 seeds
Engaging 5,000 Kibera households in the project (1,2,4)
Targeting a population of approx. 700,000 people
Raising the quality of life and the income of the locals to approx. 50 Eur/month as of 2015
Starting with a pack of 100,000 seeds
Engaging 5,000 Kibera households in the project (1,2,4)
Monitoring indicators defined
NUmber of people benefiting from the project
Number of areas included
Number of seeds proposed in the first stage (2007-2008)
Amount of money to measure income above poverty line (1,2,4)
Number of areas included
Number of seeds proposed in the first stage (2007-2008)
Amount of money to measure income above poverty line (1,2,4)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Implementation activities
This is a project that dates back to the 1980s as peri-urban agriculture has always been an integral part in the lives of inhabitants around big cities. In the early 2000s parts of the slam were considered garbage dumps. More than 1,000 people started growing food in a similar way (so, tall sacks, filled with dirt, and people grow crops in them on different levels by poking holes in the bags and planting seeds)–something that Red Cross International recognized during 2007 and 2008 when there was conflict in the slums of Nairobi. No food could come into these areas, but most residents didn’t go without food because so many of them were growing crops–in sacks, vacant land, or elsewhere. The urban farmers grow vegetables such as spinach, kale, green onions and tomatoes, a source of important nutrients to supplement diets dominated by ugali maize meal. The surplus is sold in markets to boost daily income. Small plots were voluntarily given by the communities (without compensation) for the establishment of nursery beds. Solidarités provides the seeds, and community mobi- lisers support the community members in management of the nurseries.
It takes at least three weeks for the seedlings to mature enough to be transplanted into the sacks or kitchen gardens. And already at this stage community participation is impor- tant. It is important to explain that the seedlings will be distributed for free to community members who qualify as per the selection criteria.
In the context of a slum, crops with a short growing period and long-term benefits are needed. For instance, in the first phase of the programme it was noted that (crop bulb) onions took too long to mature, so the participants opted for leafy onions. Furthermore, the quality of the soil and water for irri-gation present challenges. However difficult, it is important to ensure that hygiene and good sanitation are practiced, especially near the seedbeds, to prevent contamination. Throughout the years different international and local organisations provided support to inhabitants and therefore the project is still ongoing. (2,3,4)
It takes at least three weeks for the seedlings to mature enough to be transplanted into the sacks or kitchen gardens. And already at this stage community participation is impor- tant. It is important to explain that the seedlings will be distributed for free to community members who qualify as per the selection criteria.
In the context of a slum, crops with a short growing period and long-term benefits are needed. For instance, in the first phase of the programme it was noted that (crop bulb) onions took too long to mature, so the participants opted for leafy onions. Furthermore, the quality of the soil and water for irri-gation present challenges. However difficult, it is important to ensure that hygiene and good sanitation are practiced, especially near the seedbeds, to prevent contamination. Throughout the years different international and local organisations provided support to inhabitants and therefore the project is still ongoing. (2,3,4)
Type of NBS project
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
This is a process innovation called sack gardening: With very little open space for urban agriculture, sack gardening is well suited for farming in slums because it allows farmers to grow crops in areas with limited space by planting crops into both the top and sides of a large sack. Sacks are built by filling a 50 to 90kg (approx. 110 to 200 lbs) sack with soil and a column of stones in the middle to improve
water filtration. Farmers then transplant seedlings into holes made into the sides of a sack as well as into the top. The majority of farmers grow kale and Swiss chard because these seedlings are easily purchased at local markets, and are also available free from an NGO called Solidarités which offers seedlings and training to farmers. In addition, some farmers have chosen to plant a variety of other crops including green onions, coriander, tomatoes, and several kinds of indigenous vegetables. (5)
water filtration. Farmers then transplant seedlings into holes made into the sides of a sack as well as into the top. The majority of farmers grow kale and Swiss chard because these seedlings are easily purchased at local markets, and are also available free from an NGO called Solidarités which offers seedlings and training to farmers. In addition, some farmers have chosen to plant a variety of other crops including green onions, coriander, tomatoes, and several kinds of indigenous vegetables. (5)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
There are no mentions that the practice was derived from a different project as local seed companies in East Africa are rare, and the Kibera project is a valuable source of affordable seed for rural farmers. (2)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The project has been extended to other areas in the Kibera and Kiambiu slums and is also introducinged into other slums:Mathare(alsonearNairobi) and Juba (southern Sudan). Juba is a big slum with very poor access to safe water and sanitation facilities, but very little NGOs work in the city. (4)
