The concept of the Family Business Garden (FBG)

An UrbanRural Agricultural Continuum in Sri Lanka

Thilak T. Ranasinghe
B.Sc. (Agric) Hon., M.Sc., Ph.D. E-Mail :-thithura@sltnet.lk

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. - as commercial agriculture or environment agriculture or both - physical as well as mental satisfaction in agro entrepreneurship.

Means

End

Characters of the FBG Flower (Brand)

Item
1. Main Petal/ receptacle

Face Value
Circle & centre

Core Value
Nutrition centered / good dietary habits

2. Other petals

Different in size & shape Uneven distance

Scales of interventions could be different Interests are different from one to one No fixed model

3. Petal fixation

4. Petals + stalk

Detached

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: Family Business Garden [FBG]
CONTINUUM
Reuse Contexts

WISDOM
Store 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 Frame Cultivation Ladder Cultivation Net Cultivation Umbrella

Cultivation Tat

Cultivation Arch Cultivation Pyramid Cultivation Fence Cultivation Antenna

Cultivation Cage

Cultivation Tripod

Cultivation Bangle

Cultivation Canoe

Cultivation Key

Cultivation Lantern Portable Cultivation Tower

Cultivation Holder

Cultivation Twigs

Cultivation Envelope

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 Post& 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 womens 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:- thithura@sltnet.lk
15th November, 2008