Do Urban Community Gardens Matter? The Case of Bulawayo Metropolitan Province in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of urban agriculture with a special focus on community gardens in urban food security and
poverty alleviation in the three high density suburbs of Magwegwe North, Nketa and Nkulumane in Bulawayo metropolitan province of
Zimbabwe. Urban agriculture in Zimbabwe is in two forms; one that violates local authority by-laws whereby open pieces of land are
haphazardly cultivated and the form comprising authorised cultivation of urban gardens close to residential areas or on allocated land
though, with limited renewable user rights, by the local authority to farmers. The study focuses on the different beneficiaries, crops
grown, output and their contributions to the household diet and income. The research is largely qualitative and uses primary data
collected from 15 interviews, 5 focus group discussions and observations on beneficiaries of community gardens in Magwegwe North,
Nketa and Nkulumane high density suburbs. The results indicate that community gardens have become a significant source of fresh
produce but the shortage of resources inputs, and environmental health risks remain paramount obstacles to realising the full potential of
these gardens. We conclude that community gardens do increase access and household food security, diversity of diet and contribute
immensely to poverty alleviation among urban households.