What is in store for agriculture and specifically urban farming in 2025? Urban farming has
emerged as a trend in recent years that is reshaping the agriculture landscape in urban areas
around Africa. In 2025, the rise of urban farming will become a movement with the potential to
create untapped opportunities, redefine agriculture practices in major cities, ensure
sustainability in food production, and strengthen food security in densely populated urban areas.
A New Era for Agriculture in Cities
Urban farming, aka urban agriculture, is the farming practice of cultivating, processing, and
distributing food in or around urban areas. The growth of urban farming in Kenya in the last
several decades has been mainly proportional to the growth in population and also connected to
rising poverty and unemployment coupled with rising food prices and food shortage.
Kenya has an annual average urban population growth rate of 4.0%. It is also estimated that
60% of residents in Nairobi are living in informal settlements.
These realities contribute to innovative agriculture approaches that are becoming increasingly popular in Kenya’s major cities. Due to urbanization in the towns like Nairobi, space is limited, land is expensive, and
traditional farming methods are no longer feasible. Urban farming practices like vertical farming,
hydroponics, smart agriculture, rooftop gardens, kitchen gardens, and community gardens are
offering diversity and opportunities for residents, youth and women groups, entrepreneurs, and
in some cases immigrants, refugees, and diplomats to have a role in food production.
Smallholder Farming Partnership with Urban Agriculture
Smallholder farming is a major contributor to Kenya’s economy and food security. There are 7.5
million smallholder farmers who hold land sizes between 1-5 acres and account for 80% of the
country’s total agricultural output. Smallholder farming empowers individuals and communities
to take control of their food production by cultivating a diverse array of crops on modest plots of
land. Urban farmers are part of the smallholder farming community because they enhance food security and create economic opportunities and livelihoods for themselves and their families.
Smallholder farming is also related to urban agriculture because of the adoption of innovative
practices such as rooftop farming, vertical farming, and community gardens and the shift
towards localized and sustainable approaches to high yield harvest.
Common Urban Farming Practices in 2025
1- Rooftop Farming
Rooftop farming is a type of urban farming where food is grown on the top of concrete buildings.
It is an example of effective farming practices that will repurpose urban spaces for agriculture in
2025 and is already redefining the concept of urban landscapes, making cities greener and
more sustainable. Today, rooftops are turning previously unused spaces into farming plots and
offering benefits such as improved air quality, job creation, and increased access to fresh
produce for the community.
2- Community Gardens
Community gardens are pieces of land cultivated by a group of individuals with a common
purpose such as investment, conservation, and job creation. Community gardens are at the
heart of the urban farming movement as they foster growth, unity, and engagement. In 2025,
within our cities, community gardens are expected to continue providing residents with a shared
space to grow food, exchange knowledge, build relationships, and network. The gardens should
serve as hubs of interaction and collective effort with the aim of strengthening the
socioeconomic fabric of local communities.
With such a diverse population in major cities like Nairobi and the growing demand for food for
the growing population, how can the sceptics and ambitious alike be encouraged to engage in
farming? We can start by mentioning the benefits of urban farming:
Benefits of Urban Farming
1- Food Security Solutions in Urban Areas
Food security is one of the most critical challenges today and urban areas have borne the brunt
in accessing fresh and nutritious food due to affordability. Urban farming offers a solution to this
challenge by enabling residents to grow their own and the community’s food in order to reduce
dependence on costly distant produce. In 2025, urban farming initiatives will play a role in
addressing food security concerns by supplying fresh produce, which in turn, is expected to
reduce the vulnerability of urban populations to food shortages and price gauging.
2- Urban Food Production Meets the Needs of City Residents
Another benefit of urban farming is food production and the role that it plays in meeting the
nutrition needs of residents. Here in Kenya, the growth in urbanization is increasing the demand
for fresh farm produce. Urban farming initiatives such as community gardens led by youth and
women groups and sponsored by both government and non-government organizations; and
rooftop farms established inside high-rise apartment buildings have both provided residents with
access to safe, nutritious, and affordable produce. Both initiatives can claim credit in
strengthening food security in urban areas and promoting communion and social cohesion
among residents living in and around different sections of the cities.
3- Maximizing Space and Productivity
Vertical farming is a modern concept that maximizes space and productivity by growing crops in
vertical and horizontally-stacked layers. The practice is suited for densely populated cities and
communities where space is limited. This method employs the use of Controlled Environment
Agriculture (CEA) technology that optimizes growing conditions such as hydroponics where
plants grow within a controlled environment using water-based nutrient solutions rather than
soil, and aquaponics that merges aquaculture and hydroponics.
In2025, we can project that vertical farming will become a popular practice and a solution to the
challenge of limited urban spaces. Maximizing vertical spaces allows farmers to maximize
productivity in small plots of land and as a result boost urban food production. Nulands.co.ke
offers services to invest in and learn about vertical farming in both its Isinya and Juja farms.
4- Farming Innovations for a Greener Future
Urban farming in Kenya has promoted a variety of innovative practices and technologies in the
sector such as: hydroponics and aquaponics, and the use of renewable energy sources like
solar panels. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices have led
urban farmers in Kenya to set new standards for modern agriculture. In 2025, urban farmers will
continue to be beneficiaries of the latest agricultural innovations that are paving the way for a
greener, more sustainable future in our cities and urban areas for agriculture and urbanization to
coexist harmoniously.
5- Sustainability
Sustainability is a significant benefit of urban farming. Sustainable urban agriculture practices
protect the environment by reducing the carbon footprint created during transportation of farm
produce to major towns and cities. Locally grown food can minimize the demand for long-
distance transportation and cut down on greenhouse emissions. Smart urban farming practices
increase production through the use of methods like hybrid seeds, high quality fertilizers,
modern methods of planting, and controlled planting like using modern greenhouse farming and
irrigation systems.
The rise of urban farming in Kenya is an opportunity to redefine the relationship between
agriculture and urbanization and the connection between the present and the future. Food
production can be integrated with urban environments through urban farming to create
opportunities for sustainable development, food security, and economic empowerment. Our
cities will continue to grow and evolve in 2025 and urban farming should be allowed to play a
vital role in shaping the future of agriculture in Kenya.
Urban farmers are part of a transformative movement that will redefine agriculture in Kenya’s
urban areas. In 2025, applying sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and community engagement will enable the urban farmer to pave the way for a greener, resilient, food-secure
future.
