Socioeconomic and environmental benefits of urban agriculture practices in Colombo district, Sri Lanka

The district of Colombo in Sri Lanka has undergone rapid and unplanned urbanization, thus experiencing negative consequences in terms of socioeconomic and environmental perspectives. Urbanization is vital in contributing to economic development and is unavoidable. Hence, mitigation of its negative impacts is a pressing necessity. A potential initiative in combating the negative consequence of urbanization is urban agriculture (UA). If this is proven, the Colombo district can take the lead in Sri Lanka in promoting urban agriculture and reducing the negative impacts of urbanization. The study’s first objective is to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) and the value of socioeconomic benefits of urban agriculture practices. The second objective is to estimate WTP and the value of environmental benefits of urban agriculture practices. The third objective is to identify the key factors that influence urban dwellers’ perceptions of urban agriculture practices. Two groups of urban residents were studied: urban agriculture practitioners and non-urban agriculture practitioners. In 2020, a sample size of 494 was drawn using the stratified random sampling technique through face-to-face interviews in the Colombo district. The benefits were elicited using the choice experiment approach. The respondents were asked to evaluate urban agriculture scenarios with socioeconomic attributes (nutritional value, personal wellness, user-friendly agriculture, and food bill reduction). The environmental attributes concerned were food safety (three levels: conventional, controlled, and organic), waste management, greenery, and landscape. Analysis was done with a random parameter logit model (RPL). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the perspectives of urban inhabitants about UA with the use of perception statements rated on the Likert Scale. In respect to the first objective’s results, urban agriculture practitioners’ and non-urban agriculture practitioners' (in the parenthesis) WTP to obtain the better levels of the socioeconomic attributes were for nutritional value LKR 224.32 (85.84), personal wellness LKR 181.14 (150.51), user-friendly agriculture LKR 133.16 (143.51), and food bill reduction LKR 71.46. The socioeconomic value created by a 10% participation rate in UA in Colombo area was LKR 27.66 million. Urban agriculture practitioners’ and non-urban agriculture practitioners' (in the parenthesis) WTP to obtain the better levels of the environmental attributes were for food safety under controlled environment LKR 66.61 (198.91), food safety under organic production LKR 160.30 (189.61), waste management LKR 124.06 (130.98), greenery LKR 92.18 (106.13), and landscape LKR 45.59. In the same scenario, UA generated an environmental value of LKR 23.72 million. A six-factor model was developed by EFA to explain urban agriculture practitioners' perceptions of UA practice: resource use and support systems, environmental improvements, food security, opportunity and awareness, personal wellbeing, and economic opportunity. The views of non-urban agriculture practitioners on UA were shown by a four-factor model: unrealized benefits, knowledge and experience, attitudes, and interests. The stated benefits of UA are overall favorable and high; hence, the study indicates that UA is essential and appropriate to promote as a strategy for reducing the negative effects of urbanization. The expenses for the activities can be charged based on WTP values, resulting in no budgetary pressure. The district will benefit from the promotion and inclusion of UA programs in the regular urban development plan. Programs must address space constraints and the non-practicing group's lack of expertise in zero-land farming. The study fills the gap by proving UA's ability to reduce the negative impacts of urbanization and therefore contributes to the advancement of UA in Colombo.

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