Research & reports

Jyotsana Agarwala · · India

This case study examines the potential of rooftop organic farming and novel supply chain tactics in Badlapur, Maharashtra, India. It evaluates a rooftop organic farming initiative, assessing elements like input procurement, farming methods, logistics, and technological innovations. Research indicates that decentralized food production, such as rooftop gardening, diminishes reliance on rural agriculture, lowers carbon emissions, and improves urban food sovereignty. The study also identifies obstacles including scalability, standardization, legal impediments, and insufficient customer awareness.

Muhammad Fadeli, Tri Prasetijowati, Julyanto Ekantoro · Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat UBJ · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This ecopreneurship program for university students at Universitas Bhayangkara Surabaya integrated urban farming practices with green business innovation by utilizing unused campus land for cultivating productive crops. The program enhanced ecological awareness, entrepreneurial skills, and the development of partnership networks with various stakeholders. Its implementation results indicated that urban farming ecopreneurship has significant potential to be replicated and developed as an innovative and contextual learning model with integrated social, economic, and ecological impacts.

Siti Dharmawati, Aam Gunawan, Sugiarti Sugiarti · Jurnal Abdi Insani · Indonesia

A community service program in Banjarbaru City, Indonesia, aimed to empower 22 women farmers from the Nusa Indah Women Farmers Group to diversify duck meat products into duck soy sauce. The program, part of an urban farming initiative, involved technical guidance, outreach, and practical training. Participation was high, with 100% attendance and over 70% active engagement. While 68.19%-100% understood the material, only 27.27% expressed a strong desire to develop and market the product. Organoleptic tests showed positive feedback on the soy sauce's color, aroma, and taste.

Rafi Haikal, Thoriqi Firdaus, Herdis Herdiansyah, Rizqi Shafira Chairunnisa · Sustainability · Indonesia

This study investigated the relationship between urban planning policies and architectural design in fostering sustainable food systems in 75 smart cities in Indonesia, using a mixed-methods approach. Key findings revealed that food security is significantly undermined by the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), indicating distributional inequalities, high food expenditure, and a lack of clean water. Conversely, access to electricity improves resilience.

Tofan Tri Nugroho, Intan Rohma Nurmalasari · JIWAKERTA Jurnal Ilmiah Wawasan Kuliah Kerja Nyata · Indonesia (Probolinggo)

This Participatory Action Research (PAR) study in Mayangan District, Probolinggo City, Indonesia, aimed to optimize vacant land use through oyster mushroom cultivation training for Muhammadiyah community members. The project, conducted in four stages (observation, planning, action, evaluation), demonstrated that oyster mushroom cultivation can be effectively done in limited spaces using organic waste. Evaluation showed 90% of participants were interested in implementing urban farming, with oyster mushrooms identified as a promising commodity due to their high economic value and strong local market potential.

Citra Dusun, Magie M. Kapojos, Mervina Rondonuwu, Christine Lomo, Rinny Lontoh, Filan Mandang, Yuannita Aida · Jurnal Pengabdian Ibnu Sina · Indonesia (Manado)

A program in Manado, Indonesia, aimed to enhance food security and self-reliance by promoting chili cultivation in home gardens through socialization, counseling, and seed distribution. While it provided positive economic impacts, the program faced challenges including limited access to agricultural inputs and post-program plant maintenance. Further research and continued mentoring were recommended to evaluate its effectiveness and maximize impact.

Glenn P Ardede, Rosdiana Sijabat, Rizaldi Parani, Jacob Donald Tan · International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies · Indonesia (Jakarta)

A multiple-case study examined sustainable entrepreneurship (SE) among hydroponic entrepreneurs in the Jakarta urban region of Indonesia (Jabodetabek). Data was collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentation. Findings indicate that SE emerges from personally meaningful concerns and evolves through adaptive, relational practices shaped by local conditions, with sustainability represented as a contextual response rather than a premeditated strategy.

Sri Dwiyanti, Farid Baskoro, Miftahur Rohman · JURPIKAT (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

In Pondok Maritim, Surabaya, Indonesia, an environmentally friendly goat pen (Kakamraling) design was proposed to optimize the use of public land for urban farming through goat husbandry. The pen features a separator system for feces and urine, which are collected and periodically harvested as organic fertilizer and liquid organic fertilizer. This technological intervention is intended to allow residents to increase income from goat farming and the sale of both solid and liquid organic fertilizers derived from the goats.

Anditya Gilang Rizky Pradana, Muhammad Fariz Yoga Pranata, Bela Tri Wijayanti, Febry Nurhidayati, Aulia Adillah, Dewi Nawang Suprihatin, Dadi Suryadi, Dimar Hantari, Rehino Yanu Seto · Adi Widya Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Sukoharjo)

This community service program in Cemani Village, Grogol, Sukoharjo, aimed to empower women through Women Farmers Groups (KWT) and PKK activists, focusing on food security via urban farming. Activities included socializing superior seed planting, training in horticulture cultivation techniques, and distributing seeds. The program also introduced agrotourism to increase income through harvests and educational tourism. Results showed an increased understanding of sustainable cultivation techniques, but program sustainability requires further training, infrastructure development, routine monitoring, and collaboration among village government, universities, and BUMDes.

Kurnia Dewi, Yusuf Hariyoko, Hasan Ismail · Presidensial · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A qualitative descriptive study investigated stakeholder synergy in urban farming programs in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data was collected through interviews, documentation, and observation involving the DKPP, agricultural extension officers, farmer groups, and the local community. Strong commitment, competence, awareness, and continuity were identified as driving factors for successful implementation, but challenges include declining active farmer groups and limited facilities.

Dewa Putu Oka Prasiasa, I Ketut Widnyana, P E P Ariati, I Made Wijaya · Prosiding Seminar Ilmiah Nasional Implementasi Iptek. · Indonesia (Bali)

In Kelan Tourism Village, Bali, an integrated aquaponics biofloc urban farming model with drip irrigation for tilapia and vegetable gardens was implemented as edutourism. This initiative aimed to address the economic underperformance of culinary tourism due to external vegetable purchases despite available land. The implementation led to increased understanding and skills among target groups, students, and tourists regarding the urban farming model, and improved income for culinary businesses by reducing vegetable purchase leakages.

Nurul Chairiyah, Nur Indah Mansyur, Eko Harry Pudjiwati, Nurjannah Nurjannah, Arbain Arbain · ABDINE Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

This report describes a community service program conducted in Tarakan City, Indonesia, in January 2025, that trained women in hydroponic cultivation (Nutrient Film Technique) of lettuce and mustard greens (sawi) to address food-land loss from urbanization and population growth. Twenty women from the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) group participated, and their average technical-skill score rose by 38 points. Harvested produce was used 50% for household consumption, 30% sold, and 20% shared with neighbors, with economic effects of roughly Rp300,000 per month in household expenditure savings and Rp200,000 per month in additional income.

Maria Angela Diva Vilaningrum Wadyatenti, Ika Yuli Listyarini, Fransisca Desiana Pranatasari · Jurnal LeECOM (Leverage Engagement Empowerment of Community) · Indonesia

A community-service report on Kampung Wisata Kali Gajah Wong, a tourist site in a densely populated urban area of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, that has several underutilized abandoned plots of land. The intervention provided education and mentoring in using abandoned land and maximizing limited space for urban farming, with results positioned as a diversification of educational tourism products — priced with an appropriate cost of production (HPP) and attractive packaging — as a form of sustainable tourism marketing. The activity is reported to have improved partners' skills in implementing urban farming and included the handover of a complete set of equipment.

Endang Retno Wedowati, Fungki Sri Rejeki, Emmy Wahyuningtyas, Diana Puspitasari, Adi Candra · ADMA Jurnal Pengabdian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This community outreach report describes a program to add value to vegetable products from urban farming in the Kampoeng Pintar neighborhood of Surabaya, Indonesia, working with the local farmer group Kelompok Tani Kampoeng Pintar Oase. Using socialization, training, and technology-adoption activities based on a learning-by-doing approach, the program introduced processing techniques for vegetable nuggets, vegetable chips, and vegetable ice cream. It reports that participating residents gained skills in producing these processed vegetable products.

Tantri Indriani Indriani · PANGRIPTA · Indonesia

Horticultural production dynamics in Malang Municipality, Indonesia, were analyzed from 2019 to 2023 using primary data from the Malang City Statistics Agency's Horticulture Statistics Report, covering four commodity groups: seasonal fruits and vegetables, annual fruits and vegetables, biopharmaceutical crops, and decorative plants. Significant fluctuations were found in harvested area and production, especially in seasonal crops such as oyster mushrooms and chili peppers sensitive to market prices and climate variability, alongside a downward trend in biopharmaceutical crops such as turmeric and ginger, a lemon production surge of over 1,100% between 2022 and 2023, and relative stability in the decorative plant sector.

Temi Indriati Miranda, Nurlia Listiani, Nugroho Purwono, Dwiyanti Kusumaningrum, Nirma Yossa, Diah Setiari Suhodo · Journal of Urban Management · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study examines how informal actors along Jakarta's East Flood Canal (KBT), Indonesia, perceive and adapt to unclear governance conditions, based on two months of ethnographic fieldwork including 15 semi-structured interviews and field observations. It finds that informal practices such as street vending and urban farming are crucial to livelihoods and the urban ecosystem, creating green space, supporting food security and strengthening local identity, but that these actors constantly face eviction threats and exclusion from government support and protection due to inconsistent law enforcement, while still showing resilience through adaptive strategies and social innovation such as optimizing spatial use and building community networks.

Remigius Sotan Nino, Werenfridus Taena, Umbu Joka · Jurnal Hexagro · Indonesia

In Kefamenanu City sub-district, North Central Timor Regency, Indonesia, a study of the district's vegetable farmer population selected four villages (Bansone, Maubeli, Kefa Kelatan and Sasi) and conducted a census survey of 150 respondents in 2025. Using location quotient (LQ), shift-share analysis (SSA) and quadrant analysis, the study found mustard greens, eggplant, spinach and beans to be comparatively superior commodities, and mustard greens, long beans, tomatoes, spinach and chickpeas to be competitively superior. Commodities leading on both comparative and competitive advantage, and thus having development potential, were mustard greens (LQ=2.57, SSA=0.15), spinach (LQ=2.19, SSA=0.312) and beans (LQ=2.54, SSA=1.25).

Agung Gustiawan, Ade Cahya Kurniawan · Prospect Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia

This participatory action research study describes PT Pupuk Kujang's corporate social and environmental responsibility program in Indonesia through four initiatives: Kuwatan Sadesa, which raised coffee productivity from 1.2 toward a potential 3 tons/ha while conserving forest land; Kujang Wanita Tangguh (KUWAT), which had women produce at least two products from garment waste; Asa Warga Ternak Mandiri (Asatama), which developed a communal system of at least 16 sheep funded by crowdfunding and fed partly on pineapple waste; and Kujang Urban Farming (KURFA), which established one greenhouse, engaged at least 10 residents and generated derivative food products. The study reports these programs enhanced community welfare and social solidarity and promoted environmental sustainability.

Dinesh Kumar, Abhishek Ranjan, Mahendra Sharma, Sanoj Kumar, Vishnu Ji Awasthi, Anshu Kumari, Ramesh Kumar Sahni, Ananya Rai, Krishna Murari, Shilpi Kumari, S. Paswan, Kushwaha Abhijeet · Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · India

A trial at the College of Agricultural Engineering, Ara, Bihar, India (November 2024-March 2025) used a randomized block design with six replications to test drip irrigation on Indra capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) grown on a rooftop. Drip irrigation produced greater plant height, more leaves and flowers, an average of 21.3 fruits per plant, fruit length of 67.2 mm, fruit weight of 79.81 g and yield of 3.52 kg/plant, while saving about 75-80% of water compared with conventional irrigation at a water-use efficiency of 9.2 kg/m³, and yield increased 10-15% over yields typically observed with traditional irrigation methods.

Widowati Widowati, Cahyo Budiman, Meiny Suzery, Jafron Wasiq Hidayat, Sutrisno Sutrisno, Eka Triyana, Taleb Gaber · International Journal of Community Engagement and Development · Indonesia

An article reports on a community activity strengthening local food security through sustainable, integrated urban farming in Rowosari Village, Tembalang District, Indonesia. It combines hydroponic cultivation with catfish aquaculture in limited spaces such as home yards, rooftops and vertical surfaces, and integrates waste management and plant nutrition. The activity involved lectures and discussions plus hands-on training on vertical hydroponic installations and catfish pond cultivation in the village, followed by monitoring and evaluation.

Rafitri Novitasari, Agustina Shinta Hartati Wahyuningtyas, Heptari Elita Dewi, Riyanti Isaskar · JOURNAL ON SOCIAL ECONOMIC OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS · Indonesia

A study in Malang City, Indonesia, where population growth has reduced agricultural land even as unused agricultural land is being converted to urban farming, analyzed factors (knowledge, attitude, perception) influencing interest in farming. Using purposive sampling, data were collected from 70 respondents via interviews and documentation and processed with descriptive statistical analysis and SEM-PLS. The results showed that knowledge of and attitude toward urban agriculture did not have a significant effect on people's interest in urban farming, while perception of urban agriculture had a positive influence on interest, associated with residents' recognition of its economic, social and environmental benefits.

Judy Thomas, Nedumaran Swamikannu, R. Vijaya Kumari, Jyosthnaa Padmanabhan · CABI Agriculture and Bioscience · India

A survey of 330 peri-urban farm households in Hyderabad, India, using multi-stage sampling and a Double Hurdle Model to analyze the decision to diversify farm activities and the intensity of that diversification. Results show the initial decision to diversify is strongly shaped by socio-environmental factors — proximity to urban areas, sole reliance on farming for income, household size and risk attitudes — while diversification intensity is largely determined by farm-specific resource conditions such as soil fertility and farmers' subjective assessment of production and market uncertainty. The study concludes that peri-urban farms in India are moving toward diversification, but at low intensity, particularly among small and semi-medium landholdings.

Shah, Mill Jignesh, Shah, Mill · Digital Commons - RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) · India

This design thesis addresses the imbalance in India's rapid urbanization, where Tier-I cities dominate as aspirational centers while smaller towns face depopulation, economic drift, and cultural amnesia. Centered on Sidhpur, a town in Gujarat with Bohra Muslim architectural heritage and a history of Hindu-Muslim cultural synthesis, the project proposes a regenerative model reclaiming Tier-II and Tier-III towns' vitality through layered strategies of adaptive reuse, vernacular craftsmanship, and integrated food systems. Abandoned havelis (mansions) are reimagined as living infrastructure for memory, sustenance, and economic regeneration, through reviving vernacular craft, embedding urban agriculture within the architectural fabric to reinforce local food sovereignty, and fostering reverse migration by creating culturally familiar, aspirational environments. It is presented as a scalable model grounded in participatory design and sustainable material practices; no quantitative evaluation results are reported.

Elmira Dhiva Avivah, Teguh Soedarto, Wahyu Santoso · JPEK (Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi dan Kewirausahaan) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study assessed the economic feasibility of Yurga Farm, a farmer group participating in Surabaya City's urban farming program in East Java, Indonesia, which cultivates horticultural vegetables — including pakcoy, romaine, siomak, lettuce, kale, samhong and caisim — on narrow but productive urban land. Primary data on production costs, revenue and income were collected through in-depth interviews. All commodities showed an R/C ratio above 1, with break-even-point (BEP) production levels below actual production and BEP prices below selling prices, indicating the farming business is profitable and has potential for sustainable development.

Irmadatus Sholekhah, Dwi Herlindawati, Marjono Marjono, Dibyo Waskito Guntoro · Kumawula Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia

A community-service report on a training program in urban farming marketing strategy for the Wife's Extended Family Association (IKBI) at PTPN I Regional 5, Kebun Kalisanen Kotta Blater, Jember Regency, Indonesia. A preliminary study found that urban farming adopted by the plantation had positively affected household food availability, but surplus fruit and vegetable harvests were not being fully utilized — some were merely shared with neighbors or relatives, while the rest were left to rot and go to waste. The training program, targeting 20 IKBI participants, covered urban farming product processing, branding socialization, and marketing strategy development assistance. Results showed increased understanding and knowledge of urban farming practices — including organic vegetables, hydroponics, horticulture, and potted plants — and improved marketing skills, particularly in digital marketing.