Abstract:
This study aims to assess the contributions of urban agriculture to household livelihood and food security improvement; to access the perceptions of urban farmers about the benefits of urban agriculture to livelihood improvement in the Ambo town. The research relies on a mixed approach, making use of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Systematic random sampling method was employed to select households from local producers and practicing and benefiting from urban agriculture in the town of Ambo and also systematic random sampling techniques were used to select the kebeles. From 1861 target population 144 sample urban farmers were selected using systematic random sampling techniques and studied by categorizing them into two groups Senkele Faris and Awaro Kora. Descriptive Statistics and the parametric estimation logistic model were carried out to analyze the data by using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS IBM version 20). The study results indicate that livestock rearing and crop production farming were practiced in the town. The vast majority of the respondents were involved in urban agriculture for both commercial and personal consumption. About 64 (58.7%) practice milk production, while 117 (81.3%) practice poultry, among the main contribution of urban agriculture, generating household income, creating job opportunities and serving as a source of food, were the most important. Furthermore, the findings identify the factors/challenges that impede practicing urban agriculture, such as a lack of farmland, lack of credit services and poor market access. Finally, the researcher suggests that government/town administration needs to encourage, strengthen, and support those activities by addressing the right policy and giving recognition to the role of urban agriculture in improving wellbeing in particular and its contribution to the country's GDPs in general
