This volume attempts to dig deeper into what is currently happening in Africa's agricultural and rural sector and to convince policymakers and others that it is important to look at the current... Show moreThis volume attempts to dig deeper into what is currently happening in Africa's agricultural and rural sector and to convince policymakers and others that it is important to look at the current African rural dynamics in ways that connect metropolitan demands for food with value chain improvements and agro-food cluster innovations. It is essential to go beyond a 'development bureaucracy' and a state-based approach to rural transformation, such as the one that often dominates policy debate in African government circles, organizations like the African Union and the UN, and donor agencies. Show less
When discussing development issues in Africa, it is not sufficient to simply stress the ubiquity of failure, malnutrition, disease, predatory states and war, one also has to recognize that... Show moreWhen discussing development issues in Africa, it is not sufficient to simply stress the ubiquity of failure, malnutrition, disease, predatory states and war, one also has to recognize that important aspects in the lives of millions of ordinary people have been transformed over the last five decades. The contributions in this book are rooted in extensive empirical research, some at a local, regional and/or national level in different African countries (Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa and Uganda), while others take a pan-African view. All, however, offer insight from different analytical perspectives into the heterogeneity of poverty and development processes in Sub-Saharan African and confront the ideas, concepts and assumptions that lie behind pro-poor policies. The volume also encourages policy makers to choose realistic policy prescriptions in an attempt to move people out of poverty. Show less
During the current economic and political crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, urban dwellers tend to display a large measure of creativity in the invention of survival strategies, the development of... Show moreDuring the current economic and political crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, urban dwellers tend to display a large measure of creativity in the invention of survival strategies, the development of social networks, and the construction of imaginative practices. This collective volume explores the importance of the urban neighbourhood in these creative processes. Two different approaches to the neighbourhood are pinpointed. The first perceives the neighbourhood as a geographical domain in which people are engaged in a variety of activities to advance their material and immaterial well-being, making use of the 'wealth' of opportunities, assets and forms of 'capital' (natural, physical, financial, human and social). The second approach sees the neighbourhood not as necessarily geographically bounded, but as created and defined by human beings. These 'neighbourhoods' may take the form of self-help organizations, associations, churches, etc. or may be based on gender, generational, ethnic and occupational identities. The two approaches do not necessarily exclude each other. The volume contains contributions on Nakuru, Kenya (Samuel OwuorandDick Foeken), Douala, Cameroon (Piet Konings; Basile Ndjio), Kampala, Uganda (Emmanuel Nkurunziza), Kano, Nigeria (Katja Werthmann), Accra, Ghana (Deborah Pellow), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Eileen Moyer), Lom‚, Togo (Charles Piot), Mongo, Chad (Mirjam de Bruijn), and Aioun el Atrouss, Mauritania (Kiky van Til). [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
Urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa has gained momentum in recent years in terms of research and policy, as well as in practical terms. The paradox of accelerated urbanization and the increase... Show moreUrban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa has gained momentum in recent years in terms of research and policy, as well as in practical terms. The paradox of accelerated urbanization and the increase in urban agriculture in developing countries is widely recognized. More than ever before, urban residents all over the developing world are cultivating urban plots and/or keeping animals to sustain their livelihoods. This volume looks at urban farming in the Kenyan town of Nakuru and is based on surveys and in-depth studies carried out by various researchers, including Kenyan Masters students, 1999-2002. It considers farming techniques (crops and yields, animal production and rearing systems), socioeconomic aspects of urban farming (income, food supply, employment, assistance to urban farmers) and the environmental issues involved, and there is also a chapter on school farming. Specific attention is paid to urban farming in relation to poverty, with the conclusion being that those who depend on urban agriculture the most are, in fact, benefiting the least from it. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
This book, the result of a collaborative study carried out by researchers from Tanzania, Israel and the Netherlands, assesses the sustainability of urban agriculture in two medium-sized towns in... Show moreThis book, the result of a collaborative study carried out by researchers from Tanzania, Israel and the Netherlands, assesses the sustainability of urban agriculture in two medium-sized towns in Tanzania: Morogoro and Mbeya. It first gives an overview of urban agriculture in Tanzania and a description of the two towns. Then it analyses the ways in which people in Morogoro and Mbeya carry out crop cultivation and livestock keeping. This is followed by chapters on food and income, environmental issues, and employment creation, the marketing of produce, and the legal and policy setting. A concluding chapter summarizes the findings, bringing together various aspects of sustainability, and discusses local residents' views on the future of urban agriculture. The study is based on field research carried out in 2000-2001. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
The case studies in this book on mobility in sub-Saharan Africa critically discuss dichotomous interpretations of mobility and reject the idea that migration indicates a breakdown in society. They... Show moreThe case studies in this book on mobility in sub-Saharan Africa critically discuss dichotomous interpretations of mobility and reject the idea that migration indicates a breakdown in society. They adopt the approach that sedentary and mobile worlds converge and that mobility is part of the livelihood system of African people. Contents: Mobile Africa: an introduction (Mirjam de Bruijn, Rijk van DijkandDick Foeken) - Population mobility in Africa: an overview (Han van Dijk, Dick FoekenandKiky van Til) - Territorial and magical migrations in Tanzania (Todd Sanders) - Moving into another spirit province: immigrants and the 'mhondoro' cult in northern Zimbabwe (Marja Spierenburg) - Cultures of travel: Fulbe pastoralists in central Mali and Pentecostalism in Ghana (Mirjam de Bruijn, Han van DijkandRijk van Dijk) - Mobile workers, urban employment and 'rural' identities: rural-urban networks of Buhera migrants, Zimbabwe (Jens A. Andersson) - Migration as a positive response to opportunity and context: the case of Welo, Ethiopia (Jonathan Baker) - Multi-spatial livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa: rural farming by urban households - the case of Nakuru town, Kenya (Dick FoekenandSamuel O. Owuor) - Urbanisation and migration in sub-Saharan Africa: changing patterns and trends (Cecilia Tacoli) - Processes and types of pastoral migration in northern C“te d'Ivoire (Youssouf Diallo) - Mobility and exclusion: conflicts between autochthons and allochthons during political liberalisation in Cameroon (Piet Konings) - Population displacement and the humanitarian aid regime: the experience of refugees in East Africa (Patricia Daley) Show less
Felsenstein, D.; Muraya, A.; Foeken, D.W.J.; Schwartz, D. 2000
This bibliography is a listing of all materials that have ever been published or written on the subject of urban agriculture in Africa up to 1998. It records all books, chapters in books,... Show moreThis bibliography is a listing of all materials that have ever been published or written on the subject of urban agriculture in Africa up to 1998. It records all books, chapters in books, discussion and conference papers, periodical literature and all types of academic theses, dissertations and unpublished documents. The bibliography contains 526 entries organized in six chapters, namely Africa general, Northern Africa, Western Africa, Eastern Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa. Apart from Chapter 2, which contains the entries dealing with Africa in general, the five regional chapters are organized alphabetically according to the respective countries in each region. Show less
This monograph reports on the seasonal fluctuations in food and nutrition that occur in Coast Province, Kenya, on the basis of data gathered during five survey rounds held in selected locations in... Show moreThis monograph reports on the seasonal fluctuations in food and nutrition that occur in Coast Province, Kenya, on the basis of data gathered during five survey rounds held in selected locations in Kwale and Kilifi districts between mid 1985 and late 1986. The study population seems to have developed fairly successful strategies to cope with diminishing food stocks at the end of the agricultural year, despite the fact that household income levels are generally low, a large number of households fall below poverty levels, household energy intake is not more than that of peasant smallholders elsewhere in Kenya and the nutritional status of children is below that in other districts. The implications of the findings are reviewed against the background of the changes in livelihood that have occurred in rural Africa; in respect of resource management and diversification strategies; and in relation to existing theories of child growth. The contribution of climate, productive organization, household income and individual characteristics in determining the extent to which the adverse effects of seasonality are felt and the types of coping mechanisms that are used is considered. Finally, the implications for development and policy are discussed. Show less
This book examines the living conditions of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia, one of Kenya's large-scale farming districts. Based on a study conducted in 1989 among large farmers and farm labourers,... Show moreThis book examines the living conditions of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia, one of Kenya's large-scale farming districts. Based on a study conducted in 1989 among large farmers and farm labourers, an overview is given of wages, provisions, the various sources of income, the inportance of social networks and the nutritional status of different groups of farm labourers. From the data presented it appears that the extent to which households depend on the large farm owners for their livelihood largely determines their economic position. But the interdependency has its costs. The more the labourers' households are tied to the land of the farm owner for both income and own food production, the more difficulties they face in satisfying even their basic needs. Show less
This report is the first in a series dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. It examines two important aspects of the labourers' food... Show moreThis report is the first in a series dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. It examines two important aspects of the labourers' food and nutritional situation, i.e. the incomes they earn from their labour on the large farms and the extra provisions they enjoy. Data presented in the report were obtained during a survey of a stratified sample of 46 large farms in the district which was carried out in 1989 and which focused on the labour conditions on large farms. Questions were asked about the number of labourers, the wages the farm owners paid them, and the provisions they received, such as housing, sanitary facilities, medical services, a piece of land. Three categories of labourers were distinguished: permanent labourers, casual labourers, and resident casuals. The study shows that labour in Trans Nzoia was used in an exploitative manner by quite a number of employers. On average, the wages for both permanent and casual labourers were below the legal minimum. The labourers were also in a bad position legally. Although many casual labourers worked on a very regular basis on one and the same farm, it was difficult for them to obtain the status of permanent labourer. Moreover, the labourers living on the farms (the permanent labourers and the resident casuals) were faced with restrictions on land use and work outside the farms Show less
This is the final report in a series of four regarding household resources and nutrition of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. In the first three reports the findings of three surveys,... Show moreThis is the final report in a series of four regarding household resources and nutrition of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. In the first three reports the findings of three surveys, carried out in 1989, were presented and discussed (Labour conditions on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, by D. Foeken and L. Verstrate; Household resources and nutrition of labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, by D. Foeken and N. Tellegen; and Income generation of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya: rural employment and social networks, by N. Tellegen, L. Verstrate and D. Foeken). The present report offers summaries of each of the studies (Chapters 2, 3 and 4, repectively). The final chapter gives an overview of the main findings as well as policy recommendations formulated during a dissemination seminar held in Kitale in November 1992 Show less
This report, the second in a series of three dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, examines the living conditions, household... Show moreThis report, the second in a series of three dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, examines the living conditions, household resources, food consumption and nutritional situation in the labourers' households. The data were collected in June and July 1989 among some 300 households. Three types of labourers' households are distinguished, i.e. permanent labourers living on the large farms, casual labourers living on the farms ('resident casuals'), and casual labourers living outside the farms ('nonresident casuals'). For comparison a group of households was included in which nobody had performed any casual labour on a large farm during the year prior to the survey ('nonlabourers'). The results show that the households on the large farms have very little land at their disposal. In this respect, the situation of the nonresident casuals and in particular that of the nonlabourers is better. The households outside the farms are by far the wealthiest group. The average energy intake in the three groups of labourers' households is almost the same and 700 kcal lower than the estimated energy requirements. The nutritional condition of the children in the three groups of labourers' households is not very good. The study reveals that of the four study groups, the resident casuals can be considered the most vulnerable Show less
In 1983, the Ministry of Planning and National Development (MPND) of Kenya and the African Studies Centre, Leiden, started a programme of mutual studies whose objective was to analyse current... Show moreIn 1983, the Ministry of Planning and National Development (MPND) of Kenya and the African Studies Centre, Leiden, started a programme of mutual studies whose objective was to analyse current developments concerning food and nutrition in Kenya. The main subject areas are nutrition in rural development, regional and seasonal fluctuations in food supply and nutrition, and agricultural policies and agricultural production. Following the completion of several joint studies in Coast Province, a seminar on 'Sectoral discussions on seasonality, settlement and dairy development in Coast Province' was held in November 1990 at which the final results of several socioeconomic and nutrition surveys carried out during the period 1985-1987 were presented. The general objective of the seminar was to disseminate the study results among government officers concerned with the social and economic development of the area, to offer the results for discussion and to formulate recommendations for policy and planning purposes. This report contains a summary of each of the five main reports which were presented - a socioeconomic profile of the study populations in Kwale and Kilifi Districts, a study of seasonality in food consumption and anthropometry, a survey of economic and nutritional conditions at settlement schemes, a study of nutrition and dairy development and of women's groups - together with the seminar's recommendations. Show less
This is Part 4/5 of a series concerned with seasonality in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. Household surveys were carried out in six locations in Kwale and Kilifi Districts in 1985-1987. The present... Show moreThis is Part 4/5 of a series concerned with seasonality in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. Household surveys were carried out in six locations in Kwale and Kilifi Districts in 1985-1987. The present report deals with food consumption and the nutritional condition of the study population. Results show that the average energy intake in the sampled households is substantially lower than the reference requirements. However, energy intake differs according to research area, income class and season. On average, only about one-third of the energy intake is covered by the households' own food production. The general seasonality pattern of height and weight growth of the children differs little between the research areas. However, the amplitudes of the seasonal fluctuations differ between the areas. Household income level appears to be an important variable underlying differences in the seasonality of height growth and weight growth. The relationship between household income level and seasonality in the mothers' weight is more complex. In the present study, 'seasonal stress' is assessed in terms of a deterioration of the nutritional condition of the people. To a certain extent, most households are able to prevent this type of seasonal stress by buying food with money derived from a more or less regular type of off-farm employment and to a lesser extent also from farm sales. Show less
This report is concerned with land distribution and rural development and presents the final results of a survey carried out in 1985-1986 in four settlement schemes: Diani and Ukunda in Kwale... Show moreThis report is concerned with land distribution and rural development and presents the final results of a survey carried out in 1985-1986 in four settlement schemes: Diani and Ukunda in Kwale District and Roka and Mtwapa in Kilifi District, Coast Province, Kenya. In each scheme 100 households were visited and information collected regarding small farm characteristics, off-farm employment, socioeconomic differentiation between households, food consumption and nutritional status. Data from a companion survey among the general population were available for comparison purposes. It was found that food crop production, mostly maize and cassava, covers only 60 percent of the staple food requirements. In all schemes, off-farm employment plays an important role and total household income consists for two thirds of employment income. The variation in income and income composition is large. Scheme households, on average, have a higher food energy consumption than the general population as well as a greater variation in diet. As regards nutritional status, there are significant differences between schemes and general population in respect of height-for-age of children. There is no traceable influence of individual schemes as such on the nutritional status of children. It is concluded that from the point of view of regional agricultural development the results of government settlement policy are far from optimal, but that from the point of view of the settler households the schemes are quite prosperous Show less
Seasonality research can offer an explanation for the persistent poverty in the rural areas of Third World countries. Besides, it offers a framework in which research questions originating from a... Show moreSeasonality research can offer an explanation for the persistent poverty in the rural areas of Third World countries. Besides, it offers a framework in which research questions originating from a variety of disciplines can be included. This book contains five lectures presented in December 1988 at a workshop on seasons, food supply and nutrition in Africa. D. Foeken offers an overview of aspects of seasonality in sub-Saharan Africa, which serves as a framework within which the other contributions fit. R. Niemeijer and W. Klaver present the seasonal fluctuations in the nutritional condition of young children and their mothers in Coast Province, Kenya, and relate these fluctuations to ecotype and household welfare level. J. van Raaij and W. Schultink discuss the usefulness of research on fluctuations in nutritional conditions by means of an analysis of the energy balance, using a survey held among rural women in Benin as illustration. A. den Hartog and I. Brouwer argue that, as long as food shortages are of a seasonal character, curative mechanisms will concern mainly food habits. When food shortage becomes more chronic, however, a variety of other adaptations may be necessary. Like seasonality, external interventions (such as fluctuations in government spending and the school calendar) have their rhythms; rhythms that may coincide or collide with the seasonal pattern. T. Dietz explores this aspect of seasonality, using data from surveys in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Togo/Benin and Morocco Show less
Third part of a five-part study on seasonal fluctuations in food supply and nutrition in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. Household surveys were carried out in six locations in Kwale and Kilifi... Show moreThird part of a five-part study on seasonal fluctuations in food supply and nutrition in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. Household surveys were carried out in six locations in Kwale and Kilifi Districts in 1985-1987. The present report offers a description of the socioeconomic characteristics of the area: demographic characteristics, living conditions, food production (farm size, land use, labour, food self-sufficiency), production of cash crops and livestock, off-farm employment, household income. Show less
Second part of a series of reports on seasonality in Kwale and Kilifi Districts, Kenya. It presents a general introduction to the topic of seasonality in Africa and reviews existing socioeconomic... Show moreSecond part of a series of reports on seasonality in Kwale and Kilifi Districts, Kenya. It presents a general introduction to the topic of seasonality in Africa and reviews existing socioeconomic knowledge about Kwale and Kilifi Districts. Show less
