Zimbabwe Open University, P.O Box 8306, Harare, Zimbabwe
Online published on 19 August, 2014.
The surge in urban population and rising poverty among low income households in major Zimbabwean cities has forced urban dwellers to practice roadside urban agriculture. This has resulted in open spaces running parallel to roadsides to be used by households in urban areas for farming. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing roadside urban agriculture in high density suburbs of Zimbabwe. The study was carried out in Mufakose high density suburb in Harare. A case study approach was employed for the study and respondents were selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected through the use of interviews, open ended questionnaires and document analysis. The study focused on the main areas that were under road side urban agriculture in Mufakose high density suburb. The study showed that the majority of the respondents were unemployed and aged between 41 and 60 years old and had a high number of dependents, and earned less than an average of $200 per month. This high level of poverty forced the respondents to practice roadside agriculture to supplement their diet and income and their home gardens were too small and had inadequate space to grow crops. Some of the recommendations included, There should a legal framework that allows roadside urban agriculture without affecting infrastructure, extension services should be made available to capacitate these farmers so that the land becomes sustainable for future generations, the government should assist by providing larger pieces of land or plots on Peri-Urban land to those that are excelling and willing in roadside urban agriculture. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development must empower women in agriculture since this research had identified most of its respondents as women.
