Urban farming and food security: household’s adaptive strategy to COVID-19 crises

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns regarding the importance of food security and the agricultural sector. Experiencing positive growth in the Gross Domestic Product during pandemic, the agricultural sector is considered to be the most resilient sector. This study examines changes in the household pattern of food consumption and their current position on food security. It also analyses household adaptation to current health crises. We conduct an online survey from September to October 2020. The coverage areas of this survey are concentrated in Java Island and captured 1,499 households. We calculate the food security index to measure the behavioral changes of household on their food consumption pattern. The index indicates that the majority of households are food secure. However, households with food insecurity generally have multidimensional vulnerabilities on the effects of this pandemic. Our survey has indicated several activities of household resilience to cope with the increase of food prices during pandemic. Urban farming is one of the solutions to access food, and their concerns on food safety, food prices and stimulate the local economy are utmost reasons. People utilized their yards by cultivating short-lived vegetables in small pots or hydroponic method. Given these reasons, the yields of their products do not go to the commercial market, although the potential to enter this market is possible. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that the government can respond to the changes that occur in society as a time to support agricultural sustainability, particularly in expanding urban farming.