URBAN ORGANIC SOLID WASTE:PRACTICES IN NAIROBI 255
routine agricultural practice, but still little is known about many of the factors control-
ling these relationships at high levels. An investigation of this subject must surely be
advocated.
One of the bottlenecks to sustainable food production in and around developing cities
is the lack of communication on urban agriculture among its actual and future practi-
tioners, be they researchers, city farmers, urban planners, consumer organisations, city
administrators, national and international support organisations and other stakeholders
in urban agriculture.
Advocating proper composting and popularising its use among urban farmers have
been used as a case in point. In the absence of a vigorous marketing strategy, and the
ready availability of chemical fertilizers, demand for compost continues to be low.
Neither is there enough awareness among potential users about its benefits in terms of
crop yield and environmental benignity. There is thus a need for reversal of this trend
through communication, to facilitate sustainable development in urban agriculture,
which will continue to play a major part in food security in developing cities.
The medium of communication must not only be for experts, but should address all
types of stakeholders including the city farmers themselves (both male and female).
Assuring people’s participation and thorough social preparation throughout the
programme cycle is a positive step towards self-sustainability.
12.10. CASE STUDY
Some gaps still remain in our knowledge of the potential for urban organic solid waste
reuse in Nairobi and whether it can realistically help solid waste management. Ques-
tions such as whether or not the informal use of source-separated organics (markets,
food processing, etc.) is likely to increase or decrease, underscore the need for further
investigations. In attempting to design the blueprint of a questionnaire for our organic
farming systems research, we interviewed a subsistence farmer, Grace (a pseudonym),
a single woman aged about 60 years, living in Kwawangware, in the outskirts of
Nairobi, near her shamba (farm).
Grace’s shamba is a 6-acre clan farm for which she possesses a title deed. She manages
it independently, although she has several sons who also have their own families.
Dumping of organic waste on her farm started in 1989. She is paid a non-negotiable
amount of Ksh. 50 (US$ 0.65) per lorry load of waste dumped. Grace does the sorting
herself and sells appropriate portions, which are used mainly for feeding livestock.
She concedes that there is a relatively vibrant market for organic waste in the neigh-
bourhood. She spreads the rest on her farm and claims that she realises an improve-
ment in crop quality from organic waste spread. Most of the crops grown are for
family consumption. While we were there, two female neighbours came to recover
some organics from the waste on her farm.