# Introduction ommercial ornamental nurseries are one among the informal growing sector in the urban areas of developing countries and it employs the youth who hardly access formal employment. A study by REPOA (2007), reported that more than 50% of the youth in Tanzanian urban are employed in the informal sector. According to Magigi (2013) more than 40% of people in the Dar es Salaam city undertake their activities in the informal sector including urban agriculture. The commercial ornamental nurseries are one of the informal sector activities widely practiced in Tanzanian cities and urban areas including Dar es Salaam City (Liljestrom & Persson, 2014). Despite commercial ornamental plants nurseries taking being place in the informal sector, they play a vital role in greening the city (Hassan & Mombo, 2016). The dealers of ornamental nurseries provide flowers which are used for aesthetical purposes (Akintoye et al, 2011). Furthermore, those dealers provide fruit trees which have motivated people in the peri-urban areas to grow fruit trees (Hassan & Mombo, 2016& Lau, 2013). The fruits trees are important for food security and greening and beautifying the city environment (Osawaru et al, 2015). Commercial ornamental nurseries do not only support the green urban environment and food security but also provide employment opportunities to youth and needy women in the urban areas. Ornamental tree nurseries offer employment opportunity to urban residents around the world and trends forecast show a promising market for this business (Di Vita, 2015). As a considerable number of youths have been employed in this sector, youth unemployment and income generation challenges have somehow been reduced (Abreu et al, 2009& Bishoge, 2018). Despite the roles played by commercial ornamental being diverse, problem associated with it have been reported not only in developing countries but also in developed nations. For instance, in the United States of America, management of ornamental plants is less institutionalized compared to the rest of food crop production industry (Daughtrey & Benson, 2005). It is reported that the ornamental plant growers do not enjoy the same governmental subsidies in comparison to nonornamental plant (Ibid). In Africa, several challenges have been noted. In Nigeria, the study by Adeduntan (2015) show that there is inadequate access to land by ornamental nursery dealers growers. In Kenya, the development activities such as the expansion of roads interfere with the existing nurseries along the major road reserves (Otiso, 2018). In Tanzania, most of the government officials are not committed to support local ornamental plant nurseries simply because the accrued value of the enterprise cannot easily be expressed in monetary values which have an impact to city or national economy (Mg'ong 'o, 2004& Hassan & Mombo, 2016). In the similar note, Bishoge et al. (2017) noted that there is less recognition of the ornamental plant dealers by the government authority. Such inadequate recognition has hampered ornamental nursery dealers from accessing basic services as well as land. Furthermore, Bishonge and others noted that the ornamental dealers have a limited knowledge in managing the whole activities related to nurseries and growth of ornamental plants. However, the argument by Bishonge et al based from scientific research, some of the ornamental nurseries still exist and are rapidly emerging in the cities. There has been substantial policy development and implementation toward managing urban issues such as; green spaces, human settlements, flooding and other many issues. United Nations in the new urban agenda advocates the nations to integrate policies that support green space in urban areas (United Nations, 2017). The UN Habitat encourages the development of policies that take into consideration the green spaces (Andersson, 2016). These international agencies believe that habitats or settlement without greening is hardly habitable. In 1990s, the Sustainable City Programme (SCP) gained acceptance globally as it encouraged collective efforts of different actors in addressing pertinent urban issues including solid wastes, urban renewal, open spaces mentioning but a few. In Tanzanian context, from SCP the Urban Environment Management (EPM) was established in order to identify, sensitize and work on these issues to enhance environmental sustainability (Kasala, 2015). One the highlighted issues by EPM are the management of open space. However, open space includes the green processes by using plants that are produced in the ornamental nurseries; ornamental nurseries were not given much priority (Hassan & Mombo, 2016). As the result, they emerged everywhere in the city wherever there was a space and the possibility to operate informally. Dar es Salaam city is one among cities adopted EPM process so as to solve environmental problems in urban areas. Other initiatives adopted and implemented by Tanzania government include the enactment of the National Environmental Act, 2004; National Land Policy of 1995 and the Urban Land Act No.4 of 1999 and The Urban Planning (Urban Farming) Regulations of 2018. In line with these policy and legal frameworks, the Tanzanian government is taking initiative to formalize informal settlements of urban areas and offering informal business card for people engaging in informal activities. However, such initiatives seem to overlook land for commercial ornamental enterprise which provides green materials greening urban environment. Despite less legal and policy document in Tanzania context, commercial ornamental nurseries are mushrooming everywhere within the CBD and in the peri-urban areas of the city. Yet, there is a limited formal information platform for discussing the future prosperity of these commercial ornamental nurseries. Then, what is the future prosperity of commercial ornamental dealers? Therefore, this paper examines the challenges, problems and future prosperity of ornamental dealers in Dar es Salaam city. # II. # Methodology The study adopted a qualitative research approach in order to unveil the feelings, understanding, thoughts and opinions regarding the challenges and problems encountered by commercial ornamental dealers. Moreover, it employed a case study because five cases were studied including, Mlimani city along Makongo-Juu Road; Temboni along Morogoro Road and Magari Saba along Mbezi to Kibamba Road both in Ubungo Municipality. Others include sites besides Tumaini University College and GMS industrial area along Mwenge to Coca-Cola Road in Kinondoni Municipality. Thirty ornamental plants dealers were purposively selected particularly those who could provide first-hand information. Moreover, five Mtaa chairpersons, one agrovet dealer, one town planner, one environmental officer and one agricultural officer were interviewed using checklists. Data were collected from the primary sources through the in-depth interview with ornamental plant dealers, Mtaa chairpersons and the officials. Secondary sources of data, particularly published papers were reviewed firstly to widen the understanding of the researchers on the topic and secondly to cite important information in order to enrich the discussion. # III. # Results and Discussion # a) Access to land for commercial ornamental nurseries Land is the requisite factor for the existence and flourishment of ornamental plant nurseries in the city of Dar es Salaam. Commercial ornamental dealers follow number of steps to acquire land depending on the existing ownership over the land they are interested for their activity. In the visited sites for instance, some of the land is owned by institutions while others by individuals. One of the respondents along Mlimani City nursery declared that places used for ornamental plant nursery are not accessed freely, one has to see the owner or responsible institution in order to request for the permission. However, before establishing the business, they first write a letter which presents their request and send it the owner of the land. Their request can be either accepted or rejected. When it is accepted, they are given conditions which they are obliged to adhere. In the similar note, one of the respondents quoted saying that: # We wrote a letter to the University of Dar es Salaam management requesting a permission to use the two road reserves thinking that the University is the owner, instead the University directed us to the management of Mlimani City Shopping Mall who currently do manage the area, eventually permitted us but with some conditions". One among the conditions was to ensure the general cleanness of the site used for such activity. Another condition given was that, they should be ready at any time to vacate the site wherever the area is needed by the management. Similar conditions were given to Magari Saba ornamental dealers along Mbezi-Kibamba Road; although, this is a different site and owned by Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROAD) The TANROAD told the ornamental nursery dealers to observe environmental cleanliness while undertaking their activities. The findings reveals that despite, land for ornamental nurseries being owned by different institutions, conditions given to the ornamental plant dealers and procedures to access such land are almost the same. The most challenge encountered by the ornamental plant nursery dealers is the lack of security of tenure to support their existence in the site. Wherever owners need to use the area for other planned or emerging activities the nursery project ends up instantly. These findings reflect the study by Berry (2014) who points out that access to land by ornamental nursery dealers is not an easy task in rapidly urbanized cities. However frankly, ornamental plants are having more roles to play especially the green of urban environment. In other country like Nigeria also, access to land for ornamental activities is in adequate (Adeduntan, 2015), implying that there is no effort taken by the city authority to designate and allocate land for ornamental nurseries. When the ornamental dealers at Mbezi site were interrupted due to expansion of Ubungo-Kibamba road, they attempted to seek land elsewhere in the city. The squatted on un-built up public land while are keep on searching the land for their ornamental plants. For instance, ornamental plant dealers located nearby the Tumaini University College along the Mwenge-Coca Cola Road were given a place by the Tanzania Rural and Urban Road Agency (TARURA) but condition that should be ready to vacate whenever the area is in need without any compensation. The condition of instant vacating given is tedious because it is not Start up the business easy to secure area for short period of time. Some gardeners who suffered during the Ubungo-Mbezi road expansion squatted in the public land but three months later their nurseries were destroyed without a pre notice in-favour of government water project. What happens along Ubungo-Mbezi in Dar es Salaam is not a new story in East Africa context, in Nairobi for example, the expansion of intra city roads involved the evictions of road reserve commercial ornamental dealers without any excuse and compensations (Otiso, 2018). In contrary, Franco et al. (2006) argued that commercial ornamental needs to be recognized in urban land use development projects in order to support the future of ornamental nursery projects. In some countries like Cuba and China, city authorities recognize the importance of ornamental nurseries and landscaping projects hence it area has been included in the design of detailed plan (Zeeuw et al., 2000& Lau, 2013). However, the city environmental officer acknowledged that in Tanzania little attention has been paid by urban authority to support ornamental nursery because it is thought that it is an enterprise which can operate privately. Despite ornamental nursery being the primary components for greening the city environment, its operation and management is not heartily supported and it seems to be not a city authority priority like health, water services, education and infrastructure development. All these have retarded efforts behind its prosperity. # b) High urban land price The land value in Dar es Salaam city has increased because of increased population and high demand for residential and commercial plots As a result urban land use with higher economic merits are given priority in land use planning. Access to land by low income groups in urban areas remain uncertain due to high prices which do not reflect low income earners' budget like ornamental commercial dealers. With this reason, few commercial ornamentals do rely on road reserved land to undertake such activity. Scholars Dearbornet & Kark (2010) argue expensive land price in cities have discouraged majority land owners to put interest to commercial cultivars rather prefer other land uses like residential and commercial activities. Apart from high land price and lack of security of tenure, ornamental plant nursery requires good location free from interferences from other anthropogenic activities. However, this condition did not prevail to the ornamental nursery nearby Mwenge Minibus Stand because of the interferences from petty traders. In the discussion with some of the respondents who formally used area that area reported that because of interference of petty traders, they had to struggle searching for another site which destined them to the road reserve opposite GSM industrial area along Mwenge-Coca Cola Road. # c) Access to water by commercial ornamental nursery dealers Water is very necessary for the growth of plants as well as in the manufacturing of food via photosynthesis and also in the transportation of minerals and food for the plant. Ornamental plant nursery dealers from the visited sites access water from different sources to supplement rain water during dry season as shown in table 1. One of the respondents in the discussion had this to say: We had to leave the area because petty traders were not respecting our project they use to step on our seedlings, destroying them and even sometimes stealing them that made us find another place". nearby industries and waste water from nearby residential areas. Although some commercial ornament dealers use dirty water discharged from the industry and nearby residential houses, none have complained on the negative effects of such water to the garden plants. The use of reclaimed water is however, not a new phenomenon as it is also used in the United States of America for irrigation purposes (Haering et al., 2009); however, it is recommended that such water have to be # d) Access to seeds and plant material for propagation Seeds and other propagating materials such as flower and shrubs cuttings and suckers are important for the sustainability of ornamental plant nurseries (Dehnen et al, 2007). Seeds used by gardeners are both exotic and native species collected from various parts of the country. According to the interview, the gardeners collect the ornamental plant seeds and propagating materials within and outside the city and multiplied them through propagation techniques by some experienced gardeners. However, the findings revealed that people who used work as gardeners in foreign embassies and catholic churches located in Dar es Salaam are the ones who brought exotic spices of ornamental materials to nursery dealers. Some seeds of turf grass species like Brazilian are rarely sold in some shops at Kariakoo but most of them are locally collected. In order to ensure the supply of diverse ornamental plant species, some of the commercial ornamental plant garners have established the gardening network with commercial other ornamental dealers from other Tanzanian regions including; Tanga, Iringa, Morogoro, Mbeya and Arusha. However, not all plants from Tanzanian those regions perform better in the hot climate of Dar es Salaam and most of them already contain pest and diseases infestations According to one of the ornamental dealer adjacent Tumaini University argued that their interaction with other dealers outside Dar es Salaam help them share gardening experience, challenges and opportunities though mobile phones and sometime through face to face conversation. This implies that there is no formal arrangement and ways for gardeners to access improved seed for their nurseries (Magigi, 2013). # e) Management of insect pest and disease Management of insect pest and diseases are essential aspect for the success of commercial ornamental nursery particularly in tropical countries like Tanzania as they have considerable effects in reducing quality and quantity of produce. This normally happen when choosing pest and disease resistant species as a preventive measure. Sometimes ornamental dealers spray pesticides as a control measure for the affected plants, thus, timely availability of inputs is very crucial (Magigi 2013). At Mlimani city nursery, the pests and diseases were not common, however, gardeners reported that, usually use to consult agricultural extension officers wherever they notice signs of insect pest and diseases. One of the agrovet-dealers interviewed said that; normally offer them with pyrethroids pesticide which is not effective for all types of insect pests. The study also revealed that, at Tumaini University College nursery site, the most common pest reported was aphid. Gardeners attempt to control it using Malathion pesticide. Nevertheless, respondents further reported that such pesticide is sold at higher price almost 30,000TZS per 100ml which is less effective for a single application, unless it is applied twice or thrice in a month. At the GSM site, the nursery is affected by various pests and diseases. However, the gardeners do not know the type of the disease in English; rather According to one of the respondents around Tumaini University, ornamental dealers manage to name the pesticides in Swahili language as Digo, Carret, Ninja, Vitashield and Booster. The respondents further reported that normally booster is used to improve the health of the plant as well as making them greener. However, it is reported that, pest and diseases to plants are serious problem noted during the discussion with youth at Temboni site. Yet, youth undertaking commercial ornament activities are not knowledgeable with pests and diseases, they normally observe changes and physical abnormalities that affect normal plant growth and thereafter take the affected part of the plant to the agrovet dealers seek for advice and how to deal with such problem. The most common diseases mentioned include fungal and bacterial disease with no specification of a particular disease. The commonly used chemicals and pesticides include Dasfarm, Profecron 720 EC and Farmguard 344SE as shown in plate 2. These findings are in contrary with the study carried out in Nigeria by Akintoye et al. (2011) pointed out the common insect pests of ornamental nursery including termites, white flies, stem bore and aphids while the diseases are root rot, powdery mildew, swollen shoot, leaf blight and stem bore. Source: Respondents interview, 2019. # f) Marketing for ornamental plants Marketing is a very crucial aspect of any business. Market always sustains any business including production and selling of ornamental plants (Hsieh, 2001). Despite market being important, findings of this study show that commercial ornamental nurseries have no permanent customers of their nursery products, customers are coming from different places of the city. According to one of the respondents at Mlimani city, common buyers are the road passersby, those in car driving, owners of big hotels, commercial buildings and residential houses. Other customers include primary and secondary school as well as university management, who buy and planting them in the outdoor environment within their residences or campuses. Currently, some ornament dealers have started to propagate fruit trees such as mango, guava, pawpaws and citrus, all these are sold to different customers. The fruit trees are highly sold to customers compared to typical ornamental plants because of its possibility to offer double rewards such as food and ornamentation (Bishoge, 2018). Commercial ornamental dealers generally have no reliable market as may stay for some days or a week or more without selling any plants, but when customers come do compensate those days stayed without Volume XX Issue I Version I # h) Challenges Table 2 presents summary of the problems and challenges encountered by commercial ornamental dealers in the studied areas of Dar es Salaam city. Results from the discussion and in-depth interview show that the most pressing problem is lack of security of tenure followed by diseases and pests and lastly almost 5 interviewed persons claimed to have unreliable market. i) Prospects Despite challenges facing commercial ornamental gardening, still there is hope and confidence of success among dealers (see table 3). In all interviews, respondents were free to mention their possible optimisms with regard to commercial ornamental nurseries; thus, the analysis and discussion of their claims are still vital. Table 3 present participants view and their future prosperity which may become true if some of the problems discussed can be resolved. In particular, the issue access to land for ornamental nurseries which scored 44% in challenge raking table. Temporally lease utilize idle land, gives gardeners income and can be surrender when need by the owners 2. Expanding their business Commercial ornamental gardening provides them a means of earning income. # 3. Diversify their activity Strive to diversity ornamental garden activities as per wishes of their customers. # 4. Seeking technical/financial support Visit city office and nation farmers exhibition day (Nane-nane day) for learning more the management practice of their garden and secure fund where wherever there is a possibility of doing that. 5. Possession of informal business card The national business card granted for every year by the city authority will make them more recognizable as private business people. 6. # Grow ornamental plants adoptive to local environment Grow ornamental resistance to drought or pest/disease subject to the advice provided by consulting experts (whenever possible). Source: Respondents interview, 2019. The survival and the success of ornamental plants depend on the hopefulness of gardeners from the city authority. Therefore the information from Table 3 provides base information during debating and making decisions of urban land use and supporting ornamental plants nurseries in the cities. IV. # Conclusion The commercial ornamental nurseries are the main suppliers of ornamental and edible plants in the urban areas. Its values and importance are not restricted to income generation but also in beautifying and greening the urban built-up environment. Apart from these few mentioned values, the enterprise is confronted by number of problem and challenges such as; inaccessibility of land for establishment of nurseries and difficulties in their management practices. The possibility of gardeners to access to land lies within the capacity of city and urban authorities, but the decision in-favour of land for ornamental nurseries establishment seems to be expostulated in land use development decisions; hence, given less attention and priority. The values provided by ornamental nurseries are generalized in some legal and policy documents such as land policy, environmental policy and urban planning act but practically, ornamental gardening practices seem to take place in their absence. Agricultural extension services are mostly confined on food crops production and management; in a very rarely case such services are extended to ornamental plant garners. Moreover, limited source for water for irrigating the ornamental garden has exacerbated garden management problems particularly during the dry seasons. All these challenges and problems hamper the future prosperity of commercial ornamental gardens. Hence, subsequently the enterprise is likely to disappear and the values gained from it will nowhere be found and accommodated in our cities. 1![Figure 1: Steps followed to acquire and for ornamental nursery activities.](image-2.png "Figure 1 :") ![Journals Burgeoning of Commercial Ornamental Plant Nurseries in Dar es Salaam City: Challenge and Future Prosperity Identification of suitable area Communicate with responsible owner/institution Negotiate on the use of the place and conditions Write a letter to the owner request and agree on terms based on the negotiations](image-3.png "") 1S/nCommercial nursery sitesSources of water-Waste water discharged from road side drains.1Mlimani city-Water discharged from the leakage of city water supplyauthority (DAWASA).-Waste water discharged in road side drains from the nearby2Beside Tumaini University Collageresidences.-Sometimes do buy water from water vendors.3Along GMS Industrial area-Waste water discharged in road side drains from the industrial area and nearby residences. Future Prosperity2,280 TZS). One of the respondents along Tumainiinstructed them on how to handle ornamental nurseries.University College road reserve argued that the amountAs one respondent Mr. Abdala quoted saying that:he earned is not enough to meet all his needs but heconsiders himself with better life in comparison to otherswith no any income generating activity. Anotherrespondent at Temboni site reported to earn600,000TZS a week. Out of this amount earned permonth, he saves one third of the earning as operationalcosts. The gardeners at this site work as a group whiledocumenting the cost incurred in running the nurseryand recording the amount earned as the group permonth. The amount earned by garden how it is small; itjustifies the finding by Barbe et al (2017) who reportedthat an enterprise has a possibility of reducing incomeand unemployment challenges.g) Knowledge acquaintance by commercial ornamentalgardenersKnowledge and experience are among majorfactors behind success in any project. Likewise,ornamental plant production and management requirespeople with adequate knowledge obtained from formallyrecognized institution or practices (Barbe et al., 2017). Inthis study it was revealed that about 80% (n=30) receiveno formal training in the ornamental nurseryestablishment and management. Most of them learnthrough practical and experiences. However, 10%(n=30) of the respondents attended a special trainingon plant propagation at Sokoine University of Agriculturewhile 10% (n=30) were informally working to individualpersons (foreigners) who hired them, coached andPlate 2: Pesticides used in ornamental plant nurseriesmaking any sell. The gardeners mostly sell the nurseryproducts during rainy season. According to one of therespondents at the Mlimani city the amount earned permonth ranges from 600,000TZS to 900,000TZ with anaverage of 20,000TZS and 30,000TZ a day respectivelyper person (by 2019, 1USD equates to an average of 2S/nChallengeFrequencyPercentage (%)1.Insecurity to land occupancy right30442.Difficulties to access to water sources9133.Inadequate assistance (technical/fund)7104.Difficulties in marketing ornamental plants575.Diseases and pest management15226.Plant materials and seeds inaccessibility23Total68100Source: Respondents interview, 2019. 3S/n.ProspectsRemarks1.Short term lease of vacant public landlocated close to water sources androad junctions. ## Acknowledgement The data of this study was collected from different commercial ornamental dealers in Dar es Salaam city and some selected city officials. 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