Last updated: April 2023
Kota Malang is a city for which urbanization coupled with climate change caused an increase in its vulnerability to the urban heat island effect. One of the solutions found to address this issue has been urban farming which has been recognised and acknowledged as a top strategy to improve cities' resilience associated with social and economic co-benefit. Nevertheless, urban farming inventory in Indonesia is still limited (1). Currently, there are 21 urban farming plots throughout Kota Malang, with 210 active urban farmers involved. The city has adopted this trend since 2013 as part of an initiative called Kawasan Rumah Pangan Lestari (Sustainable Food House Region) and the Initiative of Urban Farming Malang. Alongside the local government, the major stakeholder groups are the Department of Agriculture and Food Security of Malang, Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) Malang and Bank Indonesia (BI) (Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which supports the local government in construction and development in Malang. In Kota Malang, urban farming comprises five types of urban farming: nursery, allotment, residential, institutional and rooftop farming based on its characteristics (1). A recent report showed that urban farming could contribute to community resilience for feeding potential and nutrient sufficiency, especially for targeted populations with the highest risk during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Kota Malang, the cultivation of specific vegetables could feed up to 50,000 inhabitants aged 60-64 years old (1, 2).
Increment of Urban Farming during COVID19
https://disk.mediaindonesia.com/thumbs/1800x1200/news/2020/09/14b7366300047fc3038ea81cb588663d.jpg
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
The intervention was implemented with the below goals in mind:
-To address issues related to urban food security through urban farming, which provides food and improves food access and revitalizes the local economy, land conversion and environmental quality.
-To respond to the urban heat island effect, as Malang is particularly vulnerable to it.
-To contribute to expanding urban green spaces and reducing energy use and GHG emissions from transportation.
-To contribute to community empowerment strategies that contribute to community resilience (1,2,3,4).
Implementation activities
Malang City Government runs an urban farming program to strengthen and improve food security and promote the welfare of the people. The program "Sustainable Food House Region and Initiative of Urban Farming Malang" has been started in 2013. Nurseries were implemented in 36 villages (targeted to be developed as desirable areas). Throughout 2018, recorded urban farming programs in Malang have been spread over five districts: Klojen, Lowokwaru, Kedung Kendang, Blimbing, and Sukun. The assistance provided to the citizens is the initial capital of the program activities of urban farming. Farmers received assistances or supervisory for three months. After that, farmers led these activities independently by processing or selling the harvest. In addition to financial sustainability, the activity of farming is expected to sustain the families to meet the food needs on their own. (1,2,4)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
Climate change mitigation:
- Sustainable agriculture practices to reduce energy use or carbon emissions
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Malang City Government runs the urban farming program to strengthen and improve food security and promote the welfare of the people. Alongside the local government, the major stakeholder groups are the Department of Agriculture and Food Security of Malang, Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) Malang and Bank Indonesia (BI) (Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which supports the local government in construction and development in Malang. Local farmers also benefited from the program and are supported by the municipality through grants.
The government supported the initiative of urban farming by providing training and financial support, while citizens actively participated and collaborated with each other to emerge urban farming in their surrounding areas. (1,2,3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The urban farming is also supported by National Law No. 26/2007 mandating to employ 30% proportion of urban areas as green space and Law No. 18/2012 mandating diversification of food and nutrition. This initiative is also in line with the SDGs target for Indonesia for the next 10 years, especially Goal 2 for zero hunger. (1))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Masterplan of Malang city 2010-2030. (1))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Atmaja T., Yanagihara M., Fukushi K. (2020), Geospatial Valuation of Urban Farming in Improving Cities Resilience: A Case of Malang City, Indonesia, available at Source link (accessed 1-4-2023)
2. Atmaja T., Kusyati N., Fukushi K. (2021), Community Resilience and Empowerment Through Urban Farming Initiative as Emergency Response, available at Source link (accessed 1-4-2023)
3. Nur Ahmad Said NST, Asep Nurjaman (2020), Food Security Improvement Policy in Urban Area Through Urban Farming Program in Malang (Studies in the Department of Agriculture and Food Security Malang), available at Source link (accessed 1-4-2023)
4. Giriwati N. S. S., Citraningrum A., and Setyabudi I. (2018), Urban farming: people preference towards verticulture model in small housing type- settlements in Malang as sustainable landscape movement, available at Source link (accessed 1-4-2023)
5. Indonesian Government (no date), KAWASAN RUMAH PANGAN LESTARI - KRPL, available at Source link (accessed 13-04-2023)
2. Atmaja T., Kusyati N., Fukushi K. (2021), Community Resilience and Empowerment Through Urban Farming Initiative as Emergency Response, available at Source link (accessed 1-4-2023)
3. Nur Ahmad Said NST, Asep Nurjaman (2020), Food Security Improvement Policy in Urban Area Through Urban Farming Program in Malang (Studies in the Department of Agriculture and Food Security Malang), available at Source link (accessed 1-4-2023)
4. Giriwati N. S. S., Citraningrum A., and Setyabudi I. (2018), Urban farming: people preference towards verticulture model in small housing type- settlements in Malang as sustainable landscape movement, available at Source link (accessed 1-4-2023)
5. Indonesian Government (no date), KAWASAN RUMAH PANGAN LESTARI - KRPL, available at Source link (accessed 13-04-2023)
Urban Farming (Auf Greens)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipNzKFs2pNRUHEvgizDSd1zZ53MVfUMTVI7Dh9uI=w1080-h608-p-no-v0
Urbang Farming (RW09 Kelurahan Tlogomas)
https://disk.mediaindonesia.com/thumbs/700x-/news/2021/10/af25a186085c461ed79aefe271519bfd.jpg
Urbang Farming (RW09 Kelurahan Tlogomas)
https://beritajatim.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG-20211022-WA0028.jpg
Mayor of Malang with PKK
https://a.cdn-myedisi.com/z_article/nova-5d5a222302d65.jpg
existing and potential urban farming area
https://d-nb.info/121663145X/34
Inventory of Existing Urban Farms
https://d-nb.info/121663145X/34
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the "NBS 2022" UNA Asian extension project funded by the Asia-Europe Foundation.