Determinants of urban agriculture and green infrastructure integration in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia

Urban agriculture (UA) and green infrastructure (GI) enhance food security, improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, and promote biodiversity, playing a crucial role in addressing rapid urbanization and the need for sustainable development in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. This study investigates the determinants of UA and GI integration in Bahir Dar City, emphasizing their critical role in urban development and sustainability. Data were collected through surveys and analyzed using binary and ordinal logistic regression models. The findings reveal that awareness and education are crucial, with a lack of awareness and lower education levels, such as no formal and primary education, significantly hindering the integration of UA and GI practices. Larger residential spaces and household sizes positively influence integration levels, with each additional household member increasing the score by 0.236 units for consumption needs, and each unit increase in residential site size raising the score by 0.004 units due to space availability. Conversely, smaller residential spaces present challenges to integration, which can be mitigated by adopting vertical and container farming practices with adaptable tree shading. The study underscores the need for policy measures and comprehensive strategies to support educational programs, technical assistance, and resource allocation from local governments, which are essential for promoting UA and GI integration, addressing challenges, and fostering sustainable urban development in Bahir Dar City.