Research & reports

Nisa Maidah Rahmawati, Joko Winarno, Agung Wibowo · · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study investigated community empowerment activities through urban farming in Marunda flats, North Jakarta. The flats' irrigation has deficiencies and group working is not yet fair, leading the society to choose to do agriculture activities by themselves. The research identified external factors (natural resources, environments, group dynamics, networking, human resources, policy, facilities and infrastructure) and internal factors (skill, non-formal education, and income) that obstruct empowerment activities.

Jongwoo Kim · · South Korea

This study aimed to propose activation measures for school-based urban agricultural education in South Korea, using focus group interviews with teachers and literature analysis. Teachers reported a lack of school gardens, particularly open-field plots, and difficulties in management, highlighting the need for personnel. They also noted the use of container gardens to compensate for the lack of space and the selection of crops for student harvesting experiences.

Mila Siti Fatimah, M.S Ir. Eko Hanudin, Ph. D. Toru Watanabe · · Vietnam

This study investigated heavy metal contamination in soils, vegetables, and irrigation water in peri-urban agricultural areas of Hue, Vietnam, from May 2018 to January 2019. Samples from three sites revealed that while irrigation water and agricultural soils were not seriously contaminated, 14% of vegetables were contaminated by Cr, 76% by Cd, and 47% by Pb. The consumption of vegetables was categorized as a tolerable health risk.

Miaomiao Xie, Manyu Li, Zhaoyang Li, Meng Xu, Yan Chen, Ran Wo, De Tong · Sustainability · China (Beijing)

This study investigated user profiles and landscape service provision in three urban agriculture parks (UAPs) in Beijing, China, based on 345 interviews. Most users had upper-middle incomes and were well-educated, with social connections varying by UAP type. Findings indicated that the scenery service was not adequately supplied, with 31.5% of areas failing to meet demand, suggesting six landscape types require optimization.

Abraham Verghese, Rakshitha Mouly · Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems · India

A report documenting the giant African snail (Achatina fulica) in urban and terrace gardens in Bengaluru, India (12°57'N, 77°38'E, 965 MSL) over a six-month observation period, in peri-urban horticulture. Its occurrence in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) was first reported in 1979, more than a century after two specimens were introduced into a garden in Calcutta (Kolkata) by William Henry Benson in 1847, after which it is assumed to have spread across India and much of Asia; the paper cites the genetic closeness of current snail populations to the original Kolkata specimens as evidence for this spread.

Salsabila Nur A, Ir. Irham, S.P. Anung Pranyoto · · Indonesia

This descriptive study, using purposively sampled primary data from 30 farmers in Danurejan sub-district and 25 farmers in Jetis sub-district, Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, examines the contribution of urban farming income to household income through farm income analysis, a one-sample t-test, household income analysis, and multiple linear regression. Urban farming produced a positive annual income (Rp 112,883/year), but its contribution to total household income (Rp 46,579,988/year) was only 0.24%. This low share was attributed to the very small quantity of crops cultivated per household — for example, 4 polybags/year of bird's-eye chili, 10 polybags/year of large chili, and 11 polybags/year of mustard greens. Farmer age, education level, quantity of crops grown, and seedling price were the factors significantly affecting urban farming income.

Annisa Nur Ichniarsyah, Heny Agustin, Maulidian Maulidian · Jurdimas (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat) Royal · Indonesia (Bekasi)

The Asofa Foundation conducted hydroponic training for the community in Bekasi, Indonesia, covering seeding, transplanting, and mixing hydroponic fertilizers. Participants learned to cultivate plants using hydroponics, but seedlings died after transplanting due to poor local water conditions. The study suggests further training in fruit hydroponics or other cultivation methods suitable for the environmental conditions.

오익근, 서정아, 장승옥 · 한국지역개발학회지 · South Korea

A focus group interview with young urban farmers in Daegu, South Korea, explored job creation through urban farming. Participants perceived farming as physically demanding and unrewarding, despite seeing urban farming as a promising industry for job creation. They also noted a lack of national support policies and difficulties in participation. A contradiction was identified between the young farmers' desire to adopt labor-saving new technologies and the goal of creating jobs through traditional farming.

Rainer Einzenberger, Michaela Hochmuth · Digital Commons - Lingnan (Lingnan University) · China (Hong Kong)

An interview with Professor Kin-Chi Lau was conducted in March 2015 regarding the Urban Gardening Project at Lingnan University of Hong Kong. The interview portrayed the project's history, structures, and organizational characteristics, focusing on the challenges and difficulties participants faced in realizing the project.

Meng YE, Tomohiko Yoshida · Urban and Regional Planning Review · China (Beijing)

This study examined user evaluations of allotment gardens in Beijing, China, where demand is rising. The overall evaluation was between good and general, with high marks for landscape and facilities but low marks for service, guidance, agricultural festival activities, rent, sanitary facilities, and skilled labor. The consortium operation mode received the best evaluation, while the individual mode had the lowest.

Tri Andika, Waryenti Deli, P.E.Suryaningsih P.E.Suryaningsih · University Of Bengkulu Law Journal · Indonesia

Residents in Lebong Regency, Indonesia, experienced anxiety due to a landslide at PT PGE's Hulu Lais cluster A site. This landslide resulted in 6 deaths, sinking fish ponds, rice fields, and community gardens, and crop failure. Additionally, residents' drinking water sources were polluted, and drilling caused loud sounds, ground vibrations, hot steam, and dried plants. The drilling also drastically reduced water discharge from the Mubai river, impacting residents who relied on it.

Lisa Westholm, Madelene Ostwald · Agroforestry Systems · Africa, Asia, Latin America

This literature review of 104 scientific articles across Africa, Asia, and Latin America examined food production and gender relations in multifunctional land use systems. The review found that the specific role of landscape multifunctionality for women's food security opportunities is rarely explicitly studied. It also showed that products controlled by women are often secondary and far from markets, risking neglect by policymakers, and efforts to increase their value may adversely affect women's empowerment if powerful actors appropriate benefits.

Jessica Cook, Kate Oviatt, Deborah S. Main, Harpreet Kaur, John Brett · · India (Delhi)

This paper explores market-oriented urban agriculture along the Yamuna River in Delhi, India, from the farmers' perspective. Using a multi-method Rapid Assessment Process, the study investigates how urban agriculture is practiced and what factors influence farmers' livelihood decisions. The research argues against assuming the sustainability of urban agriculture, emphasizing the need to understand city-level conditions and their impact on farmers' economic viability.

I Gusti Agung Adi Wiraguna, Ngakan Putu Sueca, I Made Adhika · RUANG-SPACE Jurnal Lingkungan Binaan (Space Journal of the Built Environment) · Indonesia (Denpasar)

This mixed-method study in Denpasar, Indonesia, investigated factors driving the conversion of urban agricultural land, primarily rice paddy fields. Despite a local government requirement for 30% urban open space, statistical data showed an average annual decrease of 31.86 hectares of farming land, from 2,632 hectares in 2010 to 2,409 hectares in 2017. The study revealed that various parties, including the government, community, private sector, and social institutions, play important roles in directing this land conversion.

Rikawanto Eko Muljawan · Prosiding Konferensi Nasional Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat dan Corporate Social Responsibility (PKM-CSR) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

In East Java, Indonesia, rapid infrastructure development leads to approximately 100 hectares of agricultural land being converted annually, reducing food supply. In Surabaya, 2000 hectares are controlled by developers, with some loaned for farming, and the local government supports urban farming for 624 households on 400 hectares. The abstract suggests that developers, who benefit from extensive land conversion, should contribute to agricultural resource improvement through Corporate Social Responsibility funds for agro eco-technology programs.

Stephan Pauleit, Didit Okta Pribadi, Hany Abo El Wafa · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

The continued existence of agriculture in and near urban areas, such as in Jakarta and Addis Ababa, is an important means to strengthen city resilience. However, its importance is still poorly, or at best intermittently, acknowledged by politicians and urban planners, who are inspired by visions of "modern" cities where agriculture is considered a negligible activity.

Riska Rahma Arriani, Mardwi Rahdriawan · Teknik PWK (Perencanaan Wilayah Kota) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

A qualitative study using purposive sampling investigated the reasons for decreasing community participation in the government-initiated Urban Farming Program at Rusun Marunda, Jakarta, Indonesia. The program, which started with 50 farmers in 2014, saw participation drop to only 5 farmers by 2019. The study found that obstacles in farming demotivated farmers, leading to a decline in participation, particularly among those with economic-egoism motivations.

Mahantayya V Math, Yashoda R Kattimani, Manjusha M Padhye · Indian Journal of Community Medicine · India (Ahmadabad)

This study points out the impact of wastewater use in urban agriculture on the incidence of diarrhea in Ahmadabad, India. Vegetables grown with wastewater have an increased risk of internalization of food-borne bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella into edible plant parts, posing a serious health risk. Contaminated water, soil, poor hand hygiene, and improper handling are sources of bacterial contamination for vegetables and fruits.

Setyo Parsudi · Berkala Ilmiah AGRIDEVINA · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study in Surabaya, Indonesia, aimed to identify urban farming models, community motivations, and obstacles faced in implementing urban agriculture. The study found that the most common urban farming models were hydroponics, followed by verticulture, fisheries, and rooftop gardens. Community motivations primarily included increasing income, utilizing empty land, pursuing farming hobbies, and using green open spaces. The main obstacles faced by the community were plant pests, lack of capital for development, extreme weather, and insufficient experience and knowledge in urban agriculture.

Alfan Prianggara, Gunanti Mahasri, Abdul Manan · Journal of Aquaculture and Fish Health · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A survey in Surabaya, Indonesia, investigated water quality and endoparasite prevalence in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from urban farming floating cage programs. Water quality parameters were measured, and average endoparasite prevalence was 5.71% for Eimeria spp. and 8% for Acanthogyrus spp. The study found positive correlations between water clarity, ammonia, and DO with Eimeria spp. prevalence, and between temperature, pH, nitrate, and nitrite with Acanthogyrus spp. prevalence, indicating a link between water quality and parasite infection.

Wojciech Mrozik, Soydoa Vinitnantharat, Thunchanok Thongsamer, Nipapun Pansuk, Pavinee Pattanachan, Parinda Thayanukul, Kishor Acharya, Marcos Quintela‐Baluja, Charles R. E. Hazlerigg, Aidan Robson, Russell J. Davenport, David Werner · The Science of The Total Environment · Asia

A study of three family-owned peri-urban aquaculture operations downstream of Bangkok, Thailand — spanning extensive, semi-intensive and intensive practices — used micropollutant analysis, genetic markers and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to assess water quality against aquaculture standards. Canals draining Bangkok did not meet quality standards and were sources of faecal coliforms, Bacteroides, Prevotella, human E. coli, tetracycline-resistance genes and nitrogen entering the ponds, causing algae blooms. The aquacultures in turn discharged salinity and the herbicide diuron into the canals; diuron was detected in shrimp, though not at a level of concern to human health. The extensive aquaculture attenuated an estimated 20 population equivalents of nitrogen pollution and trillions of faecal coliform inputs per year.

Timo Falkenberg, Deepak Saxena · Indian Journal of Community Medicine · India (Ahmedabad)

A 12-month case-cohort study of 187 households in four communities of Ahmedabad, India, purposively selected by irrigation water type (groundwater, surface water, wastewater), with bimonthly self-reported health diaries and most-probable-number measurement of Escherichia coli in water. Mean E. coli concentrations per 100 mL were 3.04×10^4 (groundwater), 9.28×10^5 (surface water) and 4.02×10^9 (wastewater) — all exceeding international irrigation water standards. Diarrhoea incidence was 7.92 episodes per 1000 person-weeks in the groundwater area versus 13.1 (wastewater) and 13.4 (surface water), with a positive correlation between irrigation water quality and diarrhoea. Wastewater reuse is often promoted as a water-scarcity fix for urban agriculture; this study shows it carries a health cost borne by the farming households themselves.

Camille Frazier · Journal of Political Ecology · India (Bengaluru)

This article examines the motivations and practices of organic terrace gardeners (OTGians) in Bengaluru, India, who grow food in private spaces. While OTGians successfully create a vibrant community driven by food safety and environmental concerns, their efforts are limited to the middle class due to class-specific concerns and production practices. The study highlights that urban gardening in this context remains an intervention primarily for the middle class.

In-Kyoung Hong, Young Chae, Yoonah Jang, Sangmi Lee, Jung Nam Su · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

A study in South Korea surveyed 115 urban citizens to analyze urban agriculture's effects based on income level, identifying socially sustainable, negative, and economically sustainable factors. Findings showed psychological stability, connection with nature, and local agricultural vitalization correlated significantly with income level. However, the negative effect of urban agriculture showed no significant correlation with income level.

Dan Yu, Dongyan Wang, Wenbo Li, Shuhan Liu, Yuanli Zhu, Wenjun Wu, Yongheng Zhou · Sustainability · China (Changchun)

This paper assessed the landscape ecological security (LES) of peri-urban cultivated land in Changchun City, China, at three time points, considering both cultivated and surrounding landscapes. Results showed that urbanization affected the peri-urban cultivated landscape, with metrics like patch density and edge density progressively increasing for cultivated land within 20 km of the urban center. This indicated elevated fragmentation and vulnerability, and the study concluded that decreased LES of cultivated land impedes sustainable peri-urban agriculture.