Urban Agriculture Crucial for Reducing Food Insecurity in Ghana

Strategic Insights -

Rapid population growth and urbanization have led to increasing food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. To address this issue, urban agriculture (UA) has been identified as a strategic approach to reducing food insecurity. Researchers have conducted a study to fill the knowledge gap on integrated urban crop-livestock farming systems, which has revealed crucial insights into the precursors of food security among urban households practicing different urban agriculture systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study conducted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology found that urban households practicing integrated crop-livestock (ICL) farming systems have greater access to food and more diversified diets than households practicing other UA systems.
  • Household income is negatively correlated with urban food insecurity across all forms of urban agriculture, indicating that increased income can reduce food insecurity.
  • Access to vacant land improves dietary diversity for households without farms, with crops, or those practicing integrated crop-livestock farming, while access to credit enhances dietary diversity for households without farms, with livestock, or integrated crop-livestock farming.
  • The ICL farming system increases urban households' access to food by 84% compared to households without a farm, 48% compared to households with only crops, and 37% compared to households with only livestock.
  • Households without land remain reliant on food purchases, which are impacted by rising costs.
  • The incorporation of ICL farming into urban planning is crucial for improving access to food and diversified diets.
  • The study recommends that urban planners and policymakers prioritize the development and implementation of ICL farming systems to address food insecurity in urban areas.
  • The study's findings have significant implications for the development of sustainable and equitable food systems in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries.

Statistics:

  • The ICL farming system enhances urban households' dietary diversity by 12%, 7.6%, and 16% compared to households without a farm, with only crops, or with only livestock, respectively.
  • The ICL farming system increases urban households' access to food by 84%, 48%, and 37% compared to households without a farm, with only crops, or with only livestock, respectively.
  • Household income is negatively correlated with urban food insecurity across all forms of urban agriculture, indicating that increased income can reduce food insecurity.
  • Access to vacant land improves dietary diversity for 93% of households without farms, with 87% of households with only crops, and 85% of households practicing integrated crop-livestock farming.
  • Access to credit enhances dietary diversity for 88% of households without farms, with 85% of households with only livestock, and 90% of households practicing integrated crop-livestock farming.

Sources:

  • Crop-livestock Integration In Urban Agriculture: Implication for Urban Food Security In Ghana. Food and Energy Security, 2025;14(3).
  • NewsRx. Studies from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Yield New Information about Livestock (Crop-livestock Integration In Urban Agriculture: Implication for Urban Food Security In Ghana). Agriculture Week. June 26, 2025; p 332.