S. Gerstl, G. Cissé and M. Tanner

In: UA Magazine 7 - Economic Aspects of Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture can provide benefits but also risks for urban inhabitants. This study confirmed that the strengths overshadow the risks of practicing home gardening in a sub-Sahelian setting, and underlined the positive economic impact and food security for home gardeners. However, these two benefits depend on seasonal variations and external factors. Nevertheless, home gardeners still have a precarious existence and need strategies for increasing their security. This article is based on a study of the socio-economic impact of home gardening in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou (Gerstl 2001). Among other aspects, this study examined home gardening as a livelihood compared to other livelihood activities carried out by people with a similar background, both in terms of amount of income and in the way it varied from season to season and from place to place. The reasons for this variation were investigated, in order to make suggestions on how the situation for these families could be improved.