The concept of the
Family Business Garden (FBG)
An Urban–Rural Agricultural Continuum in Sri Lanka
Thilak T. Ranasinghe
B.Sc. (Agric) Hon., M.Sc., Ph.D.
E-Mail :[email protected]
In the field of Urban Agriculture (UA)
The Concept of the
Family Business Garden
(FBG)
was introduced on the
World Environment Day - 5th June 2000
in Sri Lanka
Aims of the Concept of the FBG
To convert aspect of gardening into theoretically based sustainable
agri-business concept.
To address some poverty issues in generating additional
income for food security.
To work with better-mix of modern science and indigenous
technical know-how (ITK).
To make contributions for attempts to improve socio-economichealth- environment aspects of urban communities.
To visualize adoptable production systems to new generation of
agricultural producers /entrepreneurs.
Expectations of the FBG
Scope
- not only family nutrition but also additional income
source
Approach - a process not content, there is no fixed model, it is
flexible.
System
- technology development rather than technology
transfer.
Means
- as commercial agriculture or environment
agriculture or both
End
- physical as well as mental satisfaction in agro
entrepreneurship.
Characters of the FBG
Flower (Brand)
Item
Face Value
Core Value
1. Main Petal/
receptacle
Circle & centre
Nutrition centered /
good dietary habits
2. Other petals
Different in size
& shape
Scales of interventions
could be different
3. Petal fixation
Uneven distance
Interests are different
from one to one
4. Petals + stalk
Detached
No fixed model
5. Stalk/s
Dual-curved stalk
Elasticity in approach
6. Why a flower
Attractive & simple
From Child to Elderly
& use of Creativity
Overall Strategy
of the Concept :Knowledge
Management
Process:
CONTINUUM
Reuse
Contexts
WISDOM
Store
Family Business
Garden [FBG]
Principles
KNOWLEDGE
Sort
Patterns
INFORMATION
Capture
Relations
DATA
Components / Strategies of the FBG
i. Family Nutrition
ii. Technology Adoption
iii. Crop Management
iv. Post-Harvest Technology &
Value Addition
v. Landscaping & Housekeeping
ENVIRONMENTAL / COMMERCIAL
AGRICULTURE
i. Family Nutrition
Go for “ Vertical Cultivation Structures” in
maximizing Low/No-Spaces of homesteads
Select Nutritional & Favorite Crops / Livestock
(Vegetables,Fruits,Flowers,Yams,Spices,Herbs)
(Chicken, Quails, Turkey, Rabbit, Fish)
Place priority for simplicity and creativity
Low/No Space Agricultural Techniques
CULTIVATION STRUCTURES
Cultivation Towers
Cultivation Bags
Cultivation Bottles
Cultivation Racks
(Hanging &
Standing)
Cultivation Tat
Cultivation Frame
Cultivation Ladder
Cultivation Net
Cultivation Umbrella
Cultivation Arch
Cultivation Pyramid
Cultivation Fence
Cultivation Antenna
Cultivation Cage
Cultivation Tripod
Cultivation Bangle
Cultivation Canoe
Cultivation Lantern
Cultivation Holder
Portable Cultivation
Tower
Cultivation Envelope
Cultivation Key
Cultivation Twigs
Cultivation Shells
l
Cultivation Trolley
Edible Air-scape
Cultivation Cradle
This component helps to improve dietary habits
ii .Technology Adoption
 Consider
available Members & Money
 Select recommended /
new crops /
livestock / systems
 Prepare
for future market forces
and get ready to work in groups/networks
Bottle Irrigation
Simple Drips
Rain Water Harvesting
Water-Wise
Gardening
This component promotes diversity in creativity
iii . Crop Management
Management of Soil / Water / Pests /
Light or Shade / Waste
Recycling of plant Nutrients
Integrated Pest Management /
Integrated farming Practices
Application of
different crop
and livestock
management
systems
This component helps to upkeep physical fitness
iv. Post-Harvest Technology
& Value Addition
Concern of quality than quantity
Produce & product diversification
to match consumer demands
Concentration of marketing standards /
regulations / Laws /Acts
Micro-agro entrepreneurship
development for additional income
This component injects diversity for sustainability
v. Landscaping
& House Keeping
Consider physical as well as mental health
promotion along with edible Land /
Air-scaping & home management principles
Application of gender equality / women
issues into micro agro-entrepreneurship
 Think of future : go for the development of
“Business Plans” in FBG entrepreneurship
Edible gardening from front to back of the homestead in an organized manner
This component upkeeps the mental fitness
Impact of the FBG
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
MIDLE-CLASS
COMMUNITIES
SCHOOLING &
NON-SCHOOLING
YOUTH
National Goal contributions (i.e., Urban Green Chili production) &
International participation
Concept applications by the Private Sector at National & International Contexts
The Sri Lankan National Policy for Urban Agriculture after FBG initiatives
• Statement -29 (2003)
Implement a special urban agriculture promotion
program designed to ensure supply of home
consumption needs and environmental protection.
*
• Statement -17 (2007)
17.1 Promote home-gardening and urban agriculture
to enhance household nutrition and income
17.2 Promote women’s participation in home-gardening.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Government Programme for
Promotion of Home Gardening - 2007
(Let us Cultivate to Uplift the Nation)
1. Rural & urban home-gardens
2. School gardens
3. Home-gardens of school children
4. Gardens & model farms in office premises
5.Gardens in security forces camps
6. Private home-gardens of state officials
7. Gardens in office premises of the privateinstitutions
• 8. Home-gardens of public representatives
Urban – Rural Continuum
How FBG is friendly with Rural Folks
1. To enjoy on water conservation
adaptations so as to cultivate with
intensive management under resource
poor conditions
2. To cultivate in the dry season (i.e., Yala)
in order to continue income generation &
food security for better livelihoods
3. To escape from stray and/or wild animal
damages with minimal protection
measures
4. To raise the levels of fruit and vegetable
cultivations among the rural populations
in minimizing nutritional drawbacks
5. To reduce rural-urban migration of
youth while practicing low labour
agricultural production systems.
Sub-urban situations close to Municipalities
Sub-urban situations away from
Municipalities
CULTIVATION STRUCTURES DEVELOPED TODATE
under Low/No Space Agricultural Techniques through
the Knowledge Management process of
the Concept of the FBG
Cultivation structures mainly developed for land-space utilization
1) Cultivation Tower
2) Cultivation Pyramid
3) Cultivation Frame
4) Cultivation Wall
5) Cultivation Arch
6) Cultivation Bangle
7) Cultivation Mat
8) Cultivation Umbrella
9) Cultivation Cage
10) Cultivation Consortium
11) Cultivation Envelope
12) Cultivation Spool
Cultivation structures mainly developed for building-space utilization
1) Cultivation Tat
2) Cultivation Ladder
3) Cultivation Rack
4) Cultivation Tripod
5) Cultivation Net
6) Cultivation Trolley
7) Cultivation Cradle
8) Cultivation Holder
9) Cultivation Bag (Standing)
10) Cultivation Shell
11) Cultivation Twig
12) Portable Cultivation Tower
Cultivation structures mainly developed for air-space utilization
1) Cultivation Bottle
2) Cultivation Lantern
3) Cultivation Antenna
4) Cultivation Bag (Hanging)
5) Cultivation Key
6) Cultivation String
7) Cultivation Tube
8) Cultivation Plaster
9) Edible Air-scape
Inventor & Facilitator of the Concept of the FBG
Dr. Thilak T. Ranasinghe
Consultant / Advisor
Urban Agriculture / Rural Livelihoods
[Former Director of Agriculture (Western Province, Sri Lanka) :1991-2007]
(Retired Class I Officer of the Sri Lanka Agriculture Service)
18, Senanayake Road, Issadeen Town, Matara,
SRI LANKA
Tel:- +94 774 907 047, +94 412 222 462 E-Mail:- [email protected]
15th November, 2008