Initial Position
This essay attempts to analyse the mobility patterns of an everyday product in Nairobi, Kenya: the traditional green leaf vegetable Sukuma Wiki. Data has been collected that deliver insight into the economic process, from farming over transportation to trading. Quite a few people are dealing with the leafy vegetable in rural, peri-urban and urban areas, making this ubiquitous food item is an excellent example to display mobility processes. Aiming to follow the product along the supply chain farmers, middlemen, merchants and consumers involved have been observed and asked selectively. Rapid appraisal tools used in the data collection were the observation of specific streets, doing photographic documentaries, asking people spontaneously on the basis of prepared interview questions.
Conclusions
Conclusions learned from the research are
- the volume of trade is on a large scale, because many people are involved in the supply chain of Sukuma Wiki, not only the traditional farmer
- there are various means of transportation, from non-motorized vehicles to motorized vehicles and public transport
- urban farming in private or public spaces may reduce urban congestion by avoiding long distance transportation
- urban farming is increasing due to increasing unemployment, scarce availability of land and rising food prices
- many households depend on urban farming for their liveli- hood
- a urban farming in public spaces is considered illegal 7. that urban farming offers and creates marketing opportunities especially for women
- Sukuma Wiki is not subject to innovations in cooking or preparation.
The purpose of this research is to understand processes of
- mobility behaviour in daily life of people trading with this vegetable that include social, economical and cultural characteristics of Nairobi,
- mobility needs to successfully trade or consume the product,
- mobility routines relating paths and places.
Research shows that farming in the city is not a specific phenomenon of Nairobi, Kenya, but it can also be considered as a global movement. In the course of creating food security and employment in the developing countries it offers environmental protec- tion as well as alternatives of green architecture in the industrial countries.
