Empowering women through improved food security in urban centers: A gender survey in Bulawayo urban agriculture

Abstract

The major problems facing urban residents particularly women are poverty, poor food security, growing urban population, hunger and lack of formal employment. Due to lack of employment, the majority of women in urban centres are involved in urban agriculture. The major focus of this research was to establish to what extent women are being empowered through urban agriculture. The research sought to establish how women are contributing to urban poverty reduction, provision of urban food security and improved urban environmental management through their empowerment. The research used both qualitative and quantitative approaches and because the research involved an assessment of public opinion of a relatively large group, the survey method was used to conduct the research. Questionnaires, focus group discussion and observations were used as data collection instruments. From the list of 29 wards, simple random sampling of 10 wards was first conducted giving a percentage population of 34%. Twelve households from each ward, practicing agriculture at varying levels and on varying sites, were then identified giving a total sample of 120 respondents. The views of resident farmers were tapped through structured interviews, observations and group discussions with residents and agricultural officials. The SPSS package was then used to analyze the data. There was clear evidence that women are the major players in practicing urban agriculture. Women are being empowered by engaging in urban agriculture wherein they decide what to grow, cultivate their plots, and choose how to dispose of the produce. Whilst women are being empowered through urban agriculture, they face a number of challenges that include lack of finance to buy inputs, limited land for use in agricultural activities and the problem of marketing their produce.

Keywords: Urban agriculture, food security, gender, women empowerment.