Community Gardens Seen As First Line Of Defence For Food Security — Expert

By Nabila Uzma Abd Kadir

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Community garden initiatives, particularly in urban areas, can serve as a “first line of defence” in strengthening the country’s food security in facing supply uncertainties caused by the global energy crisis, according to an expert.

Deputy director (agricultural extension) of the University Community Transformation Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof Dr Norsida Man said programmes such as Kebuniti MADANI play a role as a strategic layer of food security at the grassroots level.

In this regard, she proposed that the programme be expanded to a medium or large scale by leveraging modern methods and technologies such as hydroponics and fertigation systems in urban areas.

“This initiative can be strengthened by establishing larger-scale gardens using vacant land in residential areas, including in People’s Housing Projects, as well as in schools, mosques and other locations.

“In addition, training and education related to urban agriculture courses should also be provided to communities to help them become more skilled,” she told Bernama.

Norsida said Kebuniti MADANI could also serve as a catalyst for the local economy through income generation from the sale of surplus harvests.

She also suggested the creation of community economic models through cooperatives or local sales centres to manage harvests more systematically.

“Suitable crops for community gardens are those that can be harvested quickly and are easy to manage, such as vegetables and fruits, as well as short-term crops like pokok tin (fig tree), limau purut (kaffir lime) and limau kasturi (calamansi),” she said.

Kebuniti MADANI is a government initiative to strengthen food security and reduce the cost of living through community farming, particularly in urban areas.

The programme, which encourages residents to cultivate crops together, also functions as a tool for community unity while boosting income through agricultural produce.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Agroecology Society (SRI-Mas) deputy president Dr Anni Mitin said efforts to strengthen community gardens must be implemented comprehensively within a systematic food system framework.

She said attention should be given to aspects such as local seed production through saving or exchange methods, as well as the production of natural fertilisers to reduce dependence on external inputs and avoid chemical contamination.

In addition, Anni emphasised the importance of policy and urban planning in supporting neighbourhood values by providing sites or “green public spaces” in housing developments.

“In developed countries such as Austria, there are designated and permanent areas in cities that can be used or rented on a long-term or permanent basis,” she said.

-- BERNAMA