CITY FARMING – Along with the increasing public awareness of the importance of food security and urban greening, Bausasran residents have begun to utilize empty land for farming. This movement then developed into a village known as Bausasran Vegetable Kampung.
Bausasran Vegetable Kampung is managed independently by the local community with assistance from various parties such as NGOs, academics, and the local government. Residents work together to prepare the land, plant seeds, care for the plants, until harvest. Some types of vegetables planted in Bausasran Vegetable Village include spinach, kale, chilies, tomatoes, and mustard greens.
The management of this village also involves the use of organic and environmentally friendly farming techniques. Residents are taught how to make compost from kitchen scraps and other organic waste, as well as how to control pests without using chemical pesticides. In addition, to increase economic value, some of the harvest is sold to local markets or directly to consumers through a sustainable farming system.
Head of Bausasran Vegetable Village Tourism Village Moh Esperanza said that Vegetable Village was formed in 2019. Until now, this village has collaborated with various communities including higher education institutions. In fact, the concept of urban farming in this village has also been visited by a number of foreign tourists.
“In this village, we innovate regarding the procedures for planting vegetables and processing the harvest obtained so that it can improve the economy in the community in the area,” he said.
Esperanza added that the superior product of this village is Brazilian spinach. In addition to being sold fresh, it is also processed into noodles, juice, chips and others.
Meanwhile, Nishino Taiyo, who is a student at Kansai University, said that he got energy from the atmosphere of the Bausasran Vegetable Garden. According to him, while in this village he gained a lot of knowledge that can be practiced in his country.
“I feel comfortable being here, feeling firsthand how the urban farming process is and one day I also want to come back,” said Taiyo. (*/)
