Kuala Lumpur

IMPORTANCE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

Rapid urban population growth in Malaysia has resulted in food insecurity, urban poverty, jobless citizens as well as air and water pollution 1. Malaysia is one of the many countries with annual decreases in food self-sufficiency 2. According to the Malaysia International Trade and Industry 3, the amount of processed food being imported by the country continues to rise.

Therefore, urban agriculture is bound to become increasingly important in addressing these problems in the coming years. Malaysia is one of the developing countries that practises urban agriculture as a significant strategy for improving food security. The country began to implement urban agriculture throughout the country, formally in 2014 4.

In the Malaysian context, urban agriculture is defined as the practice of planting, processing and distribution of agricultural products in the city and surrounding areas, using natural resources and recycled waste in the production of crops and livestock diversity for recreation and relaxation.

Malaysia is one of the developing countries that practises urban agriculture as a significant strategy for improving food security.

CONSTRAINTS AND THE WAY FORWARD

Urban agriculture is beneficial in terms of improving food security by increasing access to food, enriching health, building skills, generating income, enhancing community development and solving environment-related issues. The implementation of urban agriculture in Malaysia has received maximum support through favourable government policies and other organisational efforts.

References

1 Siwar, C., Ahmed F., Bashawir A., & Mia M.S. (2016). Urbanization and urban poverty in Malaysia: consequences and vulnerability. Journal of Applied Sciences, 16, 154-160.

2 Ariffin, A. S., Abas, Z., & Baluch, N. (2015). Issues and Challenges of Integrated Agro-Food Supply Chain: An Overview of Malaysian Food Security. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 9(13), 171-174.

3 MITI. (2015). MITI Report 2014. Retrieved from https://www.miti.gov.my/miti/resources/MITI_Report_20141.pdf

4 Tiraieyari, N., & Krauss, S.E. (2018). Predicting youth participation in urban agriculture in Malaysia: insights from the theory of planned behavior and the functional approach to volunteer motivation. Agriculture and Human Values, 1-14.