Farming Dreams in the City: Urban Gardens Feeding Families
By Kwame
Accra, Ghana — Nestled between a concrete wall and a mechanic’s workshop in the densely populated neighborhood of Alajo, rows of green lettuce, okra, and tomatoes sway gently under the morning breeze. There’s no farmland in sight, no tractor — just makeshift containers, old rice sacks, and plastic bottles arranged on wooden planks.
This unlikely farm belongs to 45-year-old Patience Anokye, a single mother of three and a seamstress by trade. Two years ago, the pandemic slashed her client base and income. But she turned to a skill she had nearly forgotten — farming.
“I was raised in the village where we grew our own food,” she says. “I brought that life here.”
With limited space, Patience started a rooftop garden. Today, she not only feeds her family but earns extra income selling surplus vegetables to neighbors.
“I call it my peace garden,” she smiles. “When I water my crops, my heart is calm.”
The Rise of Urban Agriculture in Ghana
As Ghana’s cities swell, so do the challenges of feeding them. Urban farming — once considered informal and irrelevant — is now gaining traction as a solution to food insecurity, unemployment, and urban decay.
According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture:
- Nearly 15% of urban households in Accra and Kumasi grow some food
- Most farms are small — on rooftops, in backyards, or on repurposed land
- Crops range from leafy greens to maize, peppers, and even poultry
“The concept of green cities is no longer theoretical,” says Dr. Emmanuel Armah, an urban planning lecturer. “It’s happening in containers, on balconies, in buckets.”
Why It Matters
1. Food Security
Urban farming reduces household food expenses and increases access to fresh produce.
2. Employment
Young people are turning to urban agriculture as a source of income, especially in the wake of rising youth unemployment.
3. Environment
Green spaces lower temperatures, reduce air pollution, and improve urban aesthetics.
4. Waste Management
Organic waste from markets and homes is being turned into compost and used to grow crops.
Meet the City Farmers
In Kumasi’s Asokwa neighborhood, 26-year-old university graduate Kwesi Donkor runs a rooftop greenhouse with kale, bell peppers, and strawberries.
“I couldn’t find a job after school,” he says. “So I created one with my hands and some seedlings.”
He now supplies fresh produce to two restaurants and a local smoothie bar.
In Tamale, a group of women from the Zogbeli community have turned an abandoned lot into a communal vegetable garden. They share tools, seeds, and profits. “It’s not just food,” says one of the women. “It’s family.”
Tools of the Trade
- Sack farming – uses soil-filled jute sacks to grow vertical rows of vegetables
- Hydroponics – a growing method using nutrient-rich water without soil
- Recycled materials – buckets, broken basins, old tires turned into plant beds
- Drip irrigation kits – small-scale water systems for controlled feeding
Ghanaian startups like AgriNova Tech now sell smart gardening kits that include solar pumps, moisture sensors, and mobile tracking.
Barriers and Challenges
Despite its benefits, urban farming still faces obstacles:
- Land tenure issues – Many city farmers squat on unused land without ownership
- Water access – Inconsistent supply and cost make irrigation difficult
- Policy neglect – Few urban development plans prioritize agriculture
- Stigma – Some view farming as a “village” activity unfit for city life
“People laughed at me,” Patience recalls. “They said I should look for a ‘real job.’ Now those same people buy my okro.”
Policy Momentum
In 2022, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly launched the Urban Agriculture Initiative, encouraging residents to grow food in public spaces.
Projects include:
- Edible school gardens
- Rooftop demo farms in municipal buildings
- Training programs for women and youth
Kumasi and Tamale have followed suit with urban greening schemes that include agriculture.
“This is how cities should grow — with food and people in harmony,” says Dr. Armah.
Technology and the Future
The future of urban farming is increasingly tech-powered:
- Smart planters that monitor soil and water levels
- Mobile platforms that connect farmers to buyers
- Drones for garden monitoring
- Climate-resilient crops suited for confined, hot urban spaces
“It’s no longer hoe and cutlass,” says Kwesi. “We’re farming with apps.”
Green Dreams
Back in Alajo, Patience is expanding. With a micro-loan from a local NGO, she’s adding drip irrigation and shade nets to reduce sun damage.
Her kids now help out after school. “They used to play games on phones,” she laughs. “Now they fight over who waters the spinach.”
She hopes to one day open a training center for other women. “If I can grow hope in a bucket,” she says, “anyone can.”
Final Thought
Urban farming isn’t just a survival strategy — it’s a vision for sustainable, self-reliant cities. It transforms concrete jungles into edible landscapes. It empowers the unemployed. It reclaims dignity with every harvest.
As Ghana’s cities grow vertically and sprawl outward, perhaps the most powerful form of resistance is growing inward — into the soil, the seed, and the heart of the people.
And it starts, sometimes, with a single tomato plant in a rice sack.