Urban agriculture as a municipal waste reduction strategy : a study of commercial farms in Suan Luang district, Bangkok metropolis | |
| Author | Witchuda Srang-iam |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-01-21 |
| Subject(s) | Urban agriculture--Thailand--Bangkok Waste minimization--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The aim of this study has been to assess the potential of urban agriculture (UA) as a waste reduction strategy in municipal waste management (MWM). It investigated UA as constituting demand and supply for waste reuse in urban agriculture (WRUA). Data collection and analysis were conducted mainly at farm level, targeting Bangkok Metropolis as the study area. The documentary evidence suggests the emergence of adaptive form of UA in Bangkok Metropolis, concurrent with the decline of traditional agriculture. The emerging UA, shifting towards intensive and short-term use of land; is generally found on marginal land near community in the fringe. These urban farmers usually realize and exploit opportunities from urban setting in marketing as well as utilizing municipal waste. Since centralized composting is undergoing a crisis, this decentralized small-scale composting offered by UA might be considered as an alternative to recycle municipal organic waste. A survey was conducted on commercial vegetable farms in Suan Luang District, as representing adaptive pattern of Bangkok UA without being preserved by zoning, to explore demand and supply of waste reuse. The result indicates, despite not much present demand, the prospects of substantial demand for waste-derived product as induced by benefit from hygienic food produce. The present demand does lead to utilizing urban waste, but only of certain types and sources. The farmers in Suan Luang area utilize large portion of municipal waste in addition to farm waste in composting, providing it is easily accessible. The investigation of waste reuse supply also displays individual practice of waste reuse by urban farmers, without cooperation throughout the process: collecting, treating, and composting. The cost and benefit analysis of WRUA reveals considerable benefit accrued to the society. Despite little contribution to MWM, the amount of benefit accrued to farmers who reuse waste allows it to become a promising strategy in waste reduction. However, this potential cannot be fully utilized if large portion of benefit remains untapped by urban farmers. A two-level intervention strategy is suggested in accommodating the linkage between UA and MWM. At farm level, waste reuse practice can be facilitated through agricultural extension, direct marketing and farmer's cooperation. At city level, promoting UA practice, providing reuse incentives, and institutional building for waste-based produce should be performed for the persistence of UA, the enlargement of WRUA extent, as well as for the reflection of beneficial values of WRUA in farmers' monetary benefit. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Amin, A. T. M. Nurul |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P. ;Banasopit Mekvichai |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) ;Royal Thai Government (RTG) ;Canadian International Development Agency/Canadian Universities Consortium (CIDA-CUC) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |