More than any other major city in the world, Jakarta is sinking into the sea at an alarming rate , while the air becomes more polluted every day.
A 2018 projection cited by UN-Habitat indicates that 84% of the fastest-growing cities will face “extreme” risks within 30 years, particularly in Africa and Asia. Among them is Jakarta, Indonesia’s major economic center.
A maritime city, not an agricultural one — originally
This metropolis is one of Asia’s most vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change. Since being renamed Batavia in 1621 as the colonial capital of the Dutch East Indies, Jakarta has developed as a maritime, not an agricultural, city.
With less than 10% of green space, urban agriculture seemed unlikely. Yet Ridwan Kamil, an architect and former governor of West Java province, launched an urban gardening initiative with a few colleagues. Thus, the Jakarta Gardening community was born in February 2011.
Beriozka Anita , 39, joined this initiative:
“ At the time, we obtained a one-hectare plot of land through negotiations between the developer Springhill and Kang Emil, alias Ridwan Kamil. ”
But no one knew much about gardening.
” We even thought tomatoes came from ketchup bottles ,” jokes this mother of three.
Since its inception, Jakarta Gardening has followed a so-called 3E approach:
- Ecological : restoring soil fertility
- Economic : sell the crops
- Educational : raising awareness among the community, especially young people, about environmental issues
On February 20, 2011, the group planted its first spinach. They also tried cassava, but planted the stalks in the wrong direction.
“ Ultimately, we realized that spinach was the easiest crop to plant and harvest in 18 to 24 days ,” explains Anita.
A vibrant gardening community in Jakarta
During her pregnancy, Anita stepped away from the project, absorbed by her family. Others took over, such as Dina Rahmawati, who came from Palembang.
Some members are considering a commercial shift, with sales to supermarkets and restaurants.
“But it required too much commitment. In the end, we remained a community of volunteers,” says Rahmawati.
The project inspired 25 other cities: the Indonesia Gardening movement was born. The community organized a national conference every two years, between 2011 and 2018. After a hiatus during the pandemic, it was reborn in 2023.
” The goal hasn’t changed: gardening remains a leisure activity, a sort of weekend getaway in the middle of the city, ” Rahmawati confides.
Through social media, members exchange seeds, organize mobile markets , and have even founded the Gardening Academy, accessible to all.
The Trilogi University Garden
Their friend Warid, a professor at Trilogi University in Kalibata (South Jakarta), has only one name, like many Indonesians. He manages the 300 m² experimental garden there, part of the Indonesia Gardening network.
The garden, launched in 2013, is a space for research and practice for students. They plant watermelons, corn, melons, lettuce, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, Chinese cabbage, Brazilian spinach, green onions, and more.
” We planted Rose tomatoes. They are disease-resistant, but more acidic ,” explains Warid.
Adaptation to urban climate
Two greenhouses, planting boxes, and several plots: the garden is adapted to Jakarta’s hot, low-lying climate. Warid avoids seeds from mountainous or subtropical regions.
He also tests imported seeds, such as the Sweet Italiano pepper from Italy:
” It’s half the size of the original red variety, but it’s grown well. We’ll replant its seeds, hoping they’ll adapt even better. “
Warid also grows rice in portable containers wrapped in cement bags to save water. The goal is to raise awareness among residents about the value of food.
Urban agriculture can make Jakarta more resilient to challenges of productivity, food security, and space constraints. It should be a policy priority.
Oswar Muadzin Mungkasa, former Deputy Governor for Planning and Environment (2015-2019), is behind the Jakarta Urban Agriculture Master Plan 2018–2030, co-developed with civil society organizations. He initially wanted to develop a sustainable city model, funded by the World Bank and supported by the Rockefeller Foundation as part of the 100 Resilient Cities program .
” Beyond food security, we aim for food sovereignty ,” he says.
Jakarta relies on external sources for 95% of its food supply.
” If one day something goes wrong, you can die in three days ,” he warns, referring to the 18 kilos he lost during the pandemic, due to not being able to go to the market.
In 2023, there were 13,798 agricultural activities in Jakarta. Among them, 339 alternative farms emerged, compared to only 26 in 2013. Most are concentrated in the south and east of the city. Even the Thousand Islands have their own agricultural units.
sumber: leparisienmatin.fr