The role and potential of urban agriculture: Exploratory research

This policy brief explores the role and potential of urban agriculture in Ethiopia, through a case study in Addis Ababa.

Authors

The objective of this study is to understand the role and potential of urban agriculture in and around Ethiopian cities, using Addis Ababa as an example.
Our findings indicate the important role of urban agriculture in Addis Ababa by highlighting its contribution to food security and price stability, employment opportunities, and environmental management – including issues such as urban greenery, urban aesthetics, and proper waste utilisation.
The main challenges for urban agriculture in Addis Ababa include the competitive demand for land, lack of water and water pollution, warehouse and limited market linkage, mismanagement of solid and liquid wastes, and poor coordination among stakeholders.
The main opportunities include the recently improved recognition and institutional structure of urban agriculture, the presence of complementary initiatives, the high demand for practising urban agriculture, and the demand for urban agriculture products.