Growing Own Food Helps Urban Communities Weather Global Supply Crisis

By Nazira Hasanah Nasaruddin and Siti Nur Athirah Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Using residential spaces for vegetable cultivation is seen as a practical way to help urban communities reduce living costs and cushion the impact of global supply disruptions.

The concept of ‘berbudi kepada tanah’ (nurturing the land and reaping its rewards) through community garden initiatives not only enables residents to produce their own food but also reduces reliance on external supplies that are vulnerable to rising logistics and energy costs.

Mohd Zainuddin Amran, chairman of Kelab Pencinta Alam dan Rekreasi Kolam Takungan Banjir Sg Midah (Sg Midah Flood Retention Pond Nature and Recreation Club), said the effort involves five nearby communities, namely Kampung Malaysia Raya, Kampung Malaysia Tambahan, Pangsapuri Sri Malaysia, People Housing Programme (PPR) Sri Malaysia and residents in the Desa Petaling area.

He said an area that was previously abandoned and inaccessible has now been transformed into a community space, including for urban farming activities.

“Previously, the area was locked and often became a site for unhealthy activities, but we have revived it through community initiatives, including farming,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

He said planting activities began to gain traction during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when residents took the initiative to grow vegetables as an alternative food source amid movement restrictions.

Among the crops cultivated are kangkung (water spinach), traditional herbs (ulam), eggplant and banana, which are easy to maintain and yield produce relatively quickly.

“Crops such as kangkung and ulam can be harvested within a short period, while bananas take between six months to a year,” he said.

The cultivation area is estimated to cover about 30,000 square feet around the retention pond, with residents participating individually based on their availability.

The initiative also indirectly supports a call by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu for the public to take up farming to reduce reliance on imported supplies amid geopolitical uncertainties affecting the global food supply chain.

Meanwhile, Cameron Highlands Malay Farmers Association chairman Datuk Syed Abd Rahman Syed Abd Rashid said rising input costs such as fertiliser, pesticides and diesel have driven up production costs, while farmgate prices remain low, affecting farmers’ incomes.

He said that although government subsidies for diesel and petrol have provided some relief, they are still insufficient, as transportation and packaging costs have also increased significantly.

The situation has resulted in some produce being unable to reach the market, with some even left to spoil on farms, as it is not worth transporting them to collection centres.

Commenting on the suggestion of home cultivation, Syed Abd Rahman described it as a positive step that could help the public save on daily expenses while ensuring their own food supply.

“Growing food for personal consumption is encouraged, as it can at least reduce dependence on the market,” he said.

A private sector employee, Anis Suraya A. Aziz, 25, also shared her interest in home gardening, influenced by her family’s practice of using fresh produce from their own garden as well as her desire to lead a healthy lifestyle.

“By growing my own vegetables, I can save about RM10 to RM20 a month on grocery expenses.

“Among the suitable crops are bayam Brazil (Brazilian spinach), tomatoes and kangkung, as they are easy to maintain and grow quickly in the local climate,” she said.

She added that those living in apartments can still take up gardening by using pots, recycled containers or medium-sized polybags in small spaces such as balconies.

“Limited space is not a barrier. What’s important is ensuring the plants receive sufficient sunlight and starting with crops that are easy to care for,” she said.

-- BERNAMA