Research & reports

A. Firmansyah Sumardjo · Journal of Hunan University · Indonesia (Bekasi)

This study analyzed the impact of family empowerment on farmer adaptation to the market for urban farming products in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia. Using participatory action research, data from observations, interviews, and focus group discussions revealed that market demand for organic products drove communities to engage in innovative organic urban farming. Males were involved in land preparation and marketing, while females focused on plant maintenance and harvest processing. The study found that family empowerment, combined with urban farming innovation, leads to business sustainability.

Hikma Ellya, Nurlaila Nurlaila, Nukhak Nufita Sari, Rila Rahma Apriani, Ronny Mulyawan, Febriani Purba, Saida Fithria · LOGISTA - Jurnal Ilmiah Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Banjarbaru)

A community service activity was conducted in Banjarbaru City, Indonesia, to assist in introducing Brazilian spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) as a yard plant. The activity involved one-day counseling for 59 participants, including chairpersons of farmer women groups, and planting assistance for several farmer women groups. Residents of Banjarbaru showed great enthusiasm for cultivating Brazilian spinach due to its edibility, ease of propagation and cultivation, and aesthetic form.

오충현, 최지원 · 한국환경생태학회 학술발표논문집 · South Korea (Seoul)

This study analyzed South Korea's urban agriculture policies over the 10 years since the enactment of the Urban Agriculture Support Act in 2011, exploring achievements and future development directions. It evaluated changes in urban agriculture demand and value by analyzing Seoul's Urban Agriculture Master Plans (1st in 2012, 2nd in 2014, 3rd in 2020). The analysis showed that urban agriculture activities became more active than initially planned, shifting from individual-level safe produce production and leisure to social values like welfare and environment.

Rini Fitri, Suryani Suryani · Jurnal Ilmiah Respati · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This paper discusses urban agriculture as a solution for elderly individuals to engage in physical activity and reduce depression in limited yard spaces in DKI Jakarta, Indonesia. It highlights that urban farming activities, such as cultivating vegetables, secondary crops, and horticulture, are undertaken by housewives and the elderly. The practice of urban agriculture encourages seniors to express their capabilities, supporting their identity and autonomy, and aims to outline these activities for the elderly.

Agus Slamet, Maryam Nurlaila, Farid Nur Achmad · Abdimas Singkerru · Indonesia

A community service program in Lapandewa Village, Buton Selatan Regency, Indonesia, provided education and practical training on utilizing organic kitchen waste to make compost, liquid organic fertilizer (POC), and botanical pesticides. Targeting 20 participants, including housewives, farmers, and entrepreneurs, the activity aimed to support food self-sufficiency through urban farming and improve community welfare. Participants successfully learned to produce these items and sort seeds, fostering awareness of waste utilization and motivating a shift from chemical fertilizers and pesticides to organic alternatives.

Hoda Fakour, Shang‐Lien Lo, Nathan Thadeo Yoashi, Angelbetter Marselian Massao, Nelson Naboth Lema, Fezile Bethusile Mkhontfo, Patrick Chris Jomalema, Nasra Shabani Jumanne, Bright Hubert Mbuya, James Travor Mtweve, Moslem Imani · Agriculture · Taiwan (Tainan)

A study in Tainan city farms, Taiwan, quantified and analyzed microplastics (MPs) in farmland soils. MPs were found in all soil samples at depths ranging from 12–117 items/m2. Farms adjacent to suburban roads had approximately three times more MPs than enclosed farms. Fragment and fibers were the main forms, with low-density polyethylene being the dominant polymer, originating from historical land use, plastic mulch, and fruit protection foams.

Haryanto Tanuwijaya, A.B Tjandrarini · Surya Abdimas · Indonesia (Surabaya)

The Kelompok Tani Elok Mekar Sari farmer group in Surabaya, Indonesia, experienced a decline in performance during the COVID-19 pandemic because its members lacked the skills to use online applications for their activities. To address this, a community service initiative provided training on the Zoom Meeting Platform, both offline and online. This training successfully enhanced the group's performance by enabling members to conduct various activities remotely while adhering to health protocols.

Jie Zheng, Lulu Sun · Journal of Resources and Ecology · China

This paper assessed the development status of productive rooftop gardens on urban commercial complexes in China using methods including ArcGIS, field research, and questionnaire interviews. Results indicated an uneven spatial distribution of productive rooftop gardens in mainland China, with 84.21% located in the southeast coast and Sichuan region. While the number of rooftop gardens has increased since 2013, operators still experience challenges in policies, funds, and planting knowledge.

Camille Frazier · Hong Kong University Press eBooks · India (Bengaluru)

This paper examines motivations for organic terrace gardening among middle-class individuals in Bengaluru, India, who grow food for home consumption. Gardeners respond to worsening health and environmental conditions, but class and caste inequalities limit their engagement with a broader community of urban food producers. These inequalities restrict the transformative potential of organic terrace gardening as an intervention, indicating a critical finding regarding equity.

Bambang Pujiasmanto, Eddy Triharyanto, Sulandjari Sulandjari, Pardono Pardono, Puji Harsono, Hery Widijanto, Desy Setyaningrum · Prosiding Seminar Nasional Fakultas Pertanian UNS · Indonesia (Surakarta)

In Karangasem Village, Laweyan District, Surakarta City, Indonesia, a community service activity aimed to provide productive activities for urban communities through vegetable cultivation using a hydroponic system. The method involved training and implementing a floating raft hydroponic cultivation system. This activity benefited the community by increasing the competitiveness of vegetable products, especially pak choy.

Tomcy Thomas, Susan Cherian · Journal of scientific research · India (Cochin City)

This exploratory study investigated rooftop gardening trends in Ernakulam city, India, with a sample of 102 respondents. It found that urban homemakers cultivate various vegetable and ornamental plants, partly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic for self-sufficiency. The study concluded that irrigation techniques and pest management among the sample should be improved.

Daren Shi-chi Leung · China Perspectives · China (Guangzhou)

The Chinese community-supported agriculture (CSA) movement advocates for peasant farming and food sovereignty, promoting "ethical" food often through intermediary certification. However, controversy exists among CSA activists who question the effectiveness of certification in improving consumer-producer relationships. This paper presents an alternative approach focusing on strengthening participatory culture within the consumer-producer nexus, based on an empirical study of Chengxianghui (CXH) in Guangzhou and outlining a "convivial agriculture" framework.

B. Savitha, T.M. Pramod Kumar, G. Ravi · International Journal of Environment and Climate Change · India (Telangana)

This ex-post facto study assessed the perception of urban farming among 120 practitioners in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Telangana, India, using personal interviews. The findings showed that 58.33% of respondents had a medium perception level, 21.67% high, and 20.00% low. Correlation analysis revealed a positive and significant relationship between perception and education, family support, crop preference, cropping intensity, and innovativeness. A negative and non-significant relationship was observed with age, urban farming experience, and annual income.

Tenri Ulfa, Nurlita Pertiwi · UNM Environmental Journals · Indonesia (Makassar)

This descriptive quantitative and correlational study of 50 respondents in Makassar City examined urban farming behavior and influencing factors. While respondents generally had high environmental knowledge, their environmental attitudes were moderate. 23 respondents with low urban farming activities cited time constraints as a difficulty, despite a significant, strong, and unidirectional relationship found between knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.

Nhung Pham Thi, Martin Kappas, Heiko Faust · Sustainability · Vietnam

This study in Huong Thuy Town, Vietnam, examined the impacts of agricultural land acquisition for urbanization (ALAFU) on 50 affected households. It found that rice cultivation and animal breeding sharply declined, while potted flower plantation grew, becoming the main income for 34% of households. However, all agricultural activities faced challenges due to shortcomings in agricultural land allocation and development plans.

Fiky Yulianto Wicaksono, Tati Nurmala · Dharmakarya · Indonesia

An online training and simulation on environmentally friendly urban farming, utilizing household waste, was conducted from January to February 2021. Participants were selected based on their existing practice or desire to practice urban farming at home. The results of this outreach indicated that the speakers' expertise enhanced participants' knowledge, and most participants understood the training material and practiced environmentally friendly urban farming.

Ratna Zulfarosda, Vita Fibriyani · JMM - Jurnal Masyarakat Merdeka · Indonesia (Jawa Timur)

This activity aimed to empower the community of Ngemplakrejo Village, Pasuruan, East Java, to practice hydroponic cultivation as a solution for food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. The process involved introducing cultivation techniques, demonstrating hydroponic planting, and community practice. The activity resulted in increased community understanding of plant cultivation and hydroponic techniques, and participants successfully practiced sowing.

Richard Kwasi Bannor, Mohit Sharma, Helena Oppong-Kyeremeh · International Journal of Social Economics · Ghana; India

This study interviewed 650 urban agriculture farmers in Ghana and India to assess household food security and the impact of urban agriculture participation. Ghanaian households were found to be mildly food insecure, while Indian households were moderately food insecure. Demographic, economic, institutional, and health factors influenced urban food security and urban agriculture differently, and the extent of urban agriculture participation positively influenced food security.

Dimas Ganda Permana Putra, Elida Novita, Bambang Herry Purnomo, Diana Nurhayati · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Jember)

A study conducted from May to August 2020 in Jember Regency, Indonesia, investigated the average monthly income of hydroponic farmers. Based on surveys and interviews, the average monthly income ranged from Rp.200,000.00 to Rp. 4,000,000.00. This low income was attributed to most respondents still being in a trial-and-error phase and lacking government assistance.

Ahmad Riyadh Umar Balahmar, Eni Rustianingsih, Ilmi Usrotin Choiriyah, Hendra Sukmana, Totok Wahyu Abadi · Umsida Repository (Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo) · Indonesia

This study, based on FGDs and academic texts from the Sidoarjo Regency Government, explores the development of a tourism area in the Sidoarjo mudflow region of Indonesia. It found that mudflow tourism could become a major destination, supported by facilities like geopark galleries, urban forests, and urban farming. Realizing this model requires physical and non-physical infrastructure, along with community socialization on safety and benefits.

Ferdian Suprata, Feliks Prasepta Sejahtera Surbakti, Victoria P.L.K Tampubolon · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Charitas · Indonesia

Challenges in urban farming include harvested vegetables being perishable before consumption, marketing, or distribution. This activity aimed to inform and share a cold storage design for storing produce from the "Mom's Farm" urban farming project in Nagrek Village. Monitoring and evaluation results indicated that factors such as electrical energy requirements and limited access to electricity should be added as design criteria for cold storage intended for remote areas.

Wildani Pingkan S. Hamzens, Meidy Widayanto Moestopo · AGROLAND The Agricultural Sciences Journal (e-Journal) · Indonesia

This research aimed to formulate a sustainable agricultural spatial innovation for the development of agribusiness places on Palu Riversides. Field observation, satellite image map observation, and literature review were used as methods. The results indicated that implementing sustainable agriculture through agribusiness place development in urban areas could utilize open spaces designated as green open space zones on the Palu Riversides, specifically the River Green Area outside the riparian zone and the river overflow runoff area.

Adela Purba, Nelson Siahaan · International Journal of Architecture and Urbanism · Indonesia (Medan)

This study proposes a flat design in Medan, Indonesia, that integrates neighborhood spaces for urban farming. The design addresses the high density and lack of communal spaces in existing flats by creating green open areas for social interaction and productive urban farming. The design process involved field studies, physical data collection, literature review, and an Ecological Architecture approach to meet user needs and reduce urban environmental problems.

Supriyati Supriyati · JAS (Jurnal Agri Sains) · Indonesia (Muara Bungo)

A descriptive study was conducted in Muara Bungo City, Indonesia, with 79 respondents to identify the levels of environmental, economic, health, and social/community motivation for utilizing yards for farming. The study found that people's motivations, from high to low, were health, environmental, economic, and social/community motivations.

Mahmudah Hamawi, Use Etica · Prosiding Sains Nasional dan Teknologi · Indonesia (East Java)

This study aimed to examine the effect of growing media mixtures on celery yield. The research was conducted from May to June 2020 at the UNIDA Gontor Faculty of Science and Technology practice land in Ponorogo, East Java. A completely randomized design with one factor and five replications was used to compare four growing media mixtures (A=control, B=soil+compost+rice husk charcoal, C=soil+compost+wood charcoal, D=soil+compost+kitchen ash). Results showed that the soil and compost mixture produced the largest wet weight of celery leaves, which was not significantly different from the soil+compost+rice husk charcoal mixture, but significantly different from the soil+compost+kitchen ash mixture.