Paper short abstract:

This paper explores strategies adopted by urbanites to cope with food insecurity amidst high urban poverty in Epworth, Harare. These strategies include dependence on rural-urban linkages for food remittances, urban farming, working on farms and reliance on the informal sector food value chain.

Paper long abstract:

For the past two decades, Zimbabwe has been experiencing food crises. The crisis is primarily a result of an economic downturn, underlain by persistent political disagreements in the country. Furthermore, low food production from an under-capacitated farming sector, combined with high inflation, foreign currency shortages and inadequate national food stocks have increased food prices and aggravated the plight of consumers. In rural areas, high levels of poverty continue to trigger migrations to urban areas. Most migrants to the city are, however, met with acute deprivation, especially in peri-urban areas where the majority of the migrants initially settle. How then, do poor urbanites feed themselves amidst high urban poverty levels? To answer this question, this study uses data collected from different surveys in Epworth, a peri-urban area outside Harare, Zimbabwe to explore major strategies adopted by urban households to cope with food insecurity. These strategies include dependence on rural food (and monetary) remittances as well as utilizing employment opportunities available in surrounding farming lands. Other urban households use their rural farming experiences to grow food in the city. In addition to these strategies, most urban poor access food from the informal sector whose value chain is integral to giving food access to a significant proportion of the urban poor. Combined, these strategies play an important role in increasing household food security and creating more resilient peri-urban food systems.