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Kota Kinabalu: Rising food prices and concerns about pesticides are forcing many families to seek healthier and more affordable options.

“One simple solution is to create your own backyard garden by growing your own food,” said Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, State Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries.

He commended the local community for successfully establishing an urban farm and sustaining the project over the past four years.

Speaking at the launch of the Urban Farmer project founded by Ken Lo and co-founded by Godwin Chong, Jamawi said the initiative reflects the community’s hard work and commitment to sustainable living.

The project is located at Kg Ganang in Kepayan, where just 1,500 square feet of land is utilised, including a greenhouse.

“Urban farming is more than just a hobby. It’s a step toward independence, sustainability and a healthier lifestyle,” said Jamawi. 

He highlighted its social benefits, saying gardening activities can strengthen family and community relationships.

“It also reduces the use of handphones and encourages children (and adults) to participate in meaningful activities.” 

The concept of Kebun Dapur, which has long existed in villages, has now been revitalised with a fresh approach. 

Jamawi has been a strong advocate of the practice, firmly believing in the many benefits of growing own food. 

He encourages the public to embrace the idea and make it part of their daily lives.

Jamawi said even small pockets of space can be used for planting. “Whatever the size, it’s enough to grow vegetables or herbs commonly used in the kitchen.

“There is nothing new about the concept of Kebun Dapur, as it has long existed in the villages where people have land to plant. 

“What we want to emphasise now is that many urban residents do not have the privilege of owning large plots. This Urban Farming project shows that even small spaces can be used for planting, and today there are methods to grow using minimal soil, or even without soil at all,” he said.

He believed that many urban areas could adopt the concept of urban farming, and said his Ministry would actively collaborate with communities to develop such projects.

Currently, the Ministry is identifying vacant land that is not being used for any purpose, with the aim of turning it into farming areas. These plots will be offered to urban communities interested in joining healthy, conscious food-producing projects.

Jamawi also said his Ministry would soon visit all 25 parliamentary constituencies to promote the projects and offer attractive packages to interested communities.

He noted that while government subsidies had previously been a way of assisting the people, they did not always produce effective results.

“We are now offering better packages with incentives that create a win-win situation. My Ministry will look into this carefully, and we will provide seeds at lower prices, such as durian seedlings, chicks, fish or any type of fruit trees or husbandry that communities prefer,” he assured.

Meanwhile, Lo described food security as an urgent mission, stressing the importance of empowering communities to produce safe food. 

He said food security must be scalable and practical through urban and community-based farming systems, including organic methods supported by training, technology and market access.

Explaining their aquaponics system, Lo said fish waste is used as the main nutrient source for growing vegetables and herbs. 

“The waste produced by the fish is first filtered through our system, where beneficial bacteria break it down into nutrients that plants can absorb,” he explained.

The nutrient-rich water is then circulated to the plants. As the plants absorb the nutrients, they help clean the water, which is returned to the fish tanks. The process creates a natural, closed-loop system where both fish and plants support each other.

Urban Farmer currently uses three planting methods: 

• Deep Water Culture (DWC), where plant roots grow directly in water, ideal for leafy vegetables and herbs.
• Wicking beds, where plants grow in soil and draw nutrients from water stored below the bed.
• Media beds, which use rocks and an ebb-and-flow system to deliver nutrients and oxygen to plant roots.

Lo said the system allows them to grow fresh, chemical-free produce efficiently while reducing water use and waste.

The project has become one of the models for community-driven farming, showing how urban spaces can be transformed into productive gardens that benefit both families and the wider community.

Their financing partner, Sabah Credit Corporation, also supports the initiative, CEO Datuk George Taitim present at the event. 

Other attendees were Datuk Stephen Poyong, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary; Datuk Verus Aman Sham, Chairman of Agroteknologi Gana Berhad; and Datin Dr Jeanette Tambakau, Founder of the Sabah Social Entrepreneurs & Eco Development (Seed) Association, among others.

For further information on building of greenhouse, can email to contact@urbanhomefarming.com.