How to grow food in a slum: lessons from the sack farmers of Kibera, Kenya

Fred Onserio, headmaster of Stara rescue centre and school, waters vegetables in the sack gardens in the school grounds. Photograph: Patrick Mayoyo/Africa Eco News

A Kenyan government initiative is helping a growing community of residents to tackle food insecurity in one of the largest slum areas in Africa

Patrick Mayoyo in Nairobi
The Guardian
18 May 2015

Excerpt:

Farming in a slum, however, inevitably has its complications. Not only is land and space scarce, but finding areas free from contamination can also be a challenge.

According to Eva Kadzo, a public health officer and community strategist with the ministry of health, sack farming in Kibera has helped discourage people from planting crops near dump sites and sewers, which had been a common practice in the area. Many of the sewers contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury, creating a health risk to those who consume vegetables grown near them.

Joyce Anyango, 30, a mother of three, says becoming an independent sack farmer has changed her life. She makes between $40 and $70 per month from selling her vegetables, and plans to increase her number of sacks to boost her income. “I used to struggle to feed my family,” she says. “However, these days I not only have vegetables readily available, but also earn some little money from selling them.”

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