Effectiveness of Urban Farming Program in Providing Multiple Bene- fits to the Urban Community in Malaysia (original) (raw)
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Journal of Asian Scientific Research, 2020
The role of social assets in community well-being in urban farming projects was reviewed in this article. Social assets are one of the key elements in reducing the incidence of poverty as it can affect the income level of an individual or household in a country. In urban farming, it has an important role from the perspective of the urban farmers and its relationship with other individuals or agencies seen as the motivational and adhesive forces for communitarian work that benefits the agriculture development in urban areas. However, previous studies that looked at social asset issues are still lacking in Malaysia, especially in urban farming context. Therefore, this study reviews how social asset benefits in urban farming and its roles in improve community wellbeing among urban farmers. The findings of the analysis of past studies have contributed roles include knowledge sharing, input and materials access, support community garden development, enhance motivations, technology transfer and adoptions, builds cooperation and encourage good agricultural practice. Since urban agriculture is profitable, more urban farmers should be encouraged to engage in this project. Thus, this study recommends that policies formulated in increasing the urban farmer's well-being must consider social assets. Future research is needed to study the community farming experience in Malaysia and to understand the factors social assets on their well-being. In this way, the information obtained will be important as a reference to the local community in Malaysia. Contribution/ Originality: The paper's primary contribution is finding that social assets are the vital elements in reducing the incidence of poverty. In urban farming, it has seen as the motivational and adhesive forces for communitarian work that benefits the agriculture development in urban areas. Thus, this study recommends that policies formulated in increasing the urban farmer's well-being must consider social assets as the important factors. 1. INTRODUCTION By 2020 it is estimated that the urbanization rate in Malaysia will be 77.0 percent and not more than 85.0 percent by 2040 and is expected to continue to increase by 2050 [1]. Malaysia's population is expected to increase from 31.7 million in 2018 to 32.4 million by 2020, while urban population is expected to increase by 87.8 percent, from 24.1 million in 2018 to 25.0 million by 2020. The rapid population growth is a result of economic and social development activities in urban areas, the well-being of the urban population is threatened and unsafe [2, 3] and