Rapid urbanization has reduced agricultural land in Depok, Indonesia, increasing its dependence on food from other regions, increasing food insecurity.
Through this project, we work to help increase food security in Depok by promoting urban and peri-urban agriculture while optimising the use of available land types to allow Depok residents to grow their own food.
Additionally, Indonesia produces 24-48 million tonnes of food waste annually, resulting in significant economic losses. Rapid urbanisation is also pressuring the urban food supply in Depok, as agricultural land decreases and the city becomes more dependent on food from other regions.
To address these challenges, promoting urban and peri-urban agriculture, especially using circular urban agriculture models, is seen as a solution to enhance food security and reduce the UHI effect.
Our approach includes:
a. building the skills of urban farmers,
b. establishing ecological farming demonstration plots, and
c. documenting evidence to support policy advocacy.
Capacity building for urban agriculture involves training in regenerative farming practices, including soil preparation, planting, nursery care, seedlings, composting, maintenance, and harvesting. Farmers also receive regular on-site technical support in partnership with IPB University and Perkumpulan Indonesia Berseru.
Currently, six demo plots are being developed across six locations, involving 156 urban farmers working in an area of 16,850 square meters. Of these farmers, 70% are over 35 years old and 72% are women.
There is clear evidence that urban farming in Depok has impacted the Diurnal Temperature Range (DTR). By comparing urban farming areas with open land, the analysis showed a decrease in DTR of about 0.16 ± 0.07°C in areas where land cover changed from open to vegetated. Vegetation increased heat storage and reduced heat release to the air, lowering maximum temperatures and slightly raising minimum ones.
The initiative has been supported by multi-stakeholder meetings that helped introduce the circular urban agriculture model into the city’s food, climate, and development policies. They also developed an urban agriculture map to aid in sales and distribution.
In 2024, Rikolto and its partners will continue to build capacity in urban agriculture, emissions calculation, and business development to ensure the sustainability of these efforts.
