Page 1062 - Proceedings Collega2023

INTERFUNCTIONAL TRADITION OF URBAN

AGRICULTURE AS A MEDIUM FOR

COMMUNITY WELLBEING

1
Anizah MOHD SALLEH*
Nor Zalina HARUN 2
Sharina ABDUL HALIM 3
1 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak, Malaysia
2,3 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
1 anizah.ms@ftv.upsi.edu.my
2 nzalina@ukm.edu.my
3 sharinahalim@ukm.edu.my

ABSTRACT

The implementation of urban agriculture among housing communities is to meet the basic human
needs from the aspect of food sources. Its implementation can also help improve the standard of living,
which in turn contributes to the wellbeing of life. It can be achieved in the long term by emphasizing
community development. Therefore, this study aims to explore the capacity of urban agriculture as a
medium for community wellbeing in addition to acting in the supply of local food sources. This study is
conducted in the form of qualitative research through a phenomenological approach. A total of 25
informants were selected for semi-structured interviews consisting of three categories: urban agriculture
participants, housing leaders, and urban agriculture development officers. Observations of urban
agriculture activities by the housing community also supported these interviews. The study's findings show
that the implementation of urban agriculture among housing communities is influenced by the capacity
of system utilization, which refers to the satisfaction factor for the community's wellbeing. It is explained
in three themes, which are (i) the formation of neighbourhoods’ brotherhood and rural culture, (ii) the
improvement of the quality of physical, mental and spiritual health, and (iii) the improvement of
knowledge and skills in agriculture and landscape. As an effect, urban agriculture that focuses on
community development indirectly covers the process of increasing community resilience that acts in
preserving local wisdom, especially the survival of agricultural traditions in urban areas.

Keywords: community resilience; wellbeing; community development; urban agriculture; local food
sources

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page 1049