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 :-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-economic-

health- 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/ Circle & centre Nutrition centered /
receptacle good dietary habits

2. Other petals Different in size Scales of interventions

& shape 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 CONTINUUM

Management Reuse Contexts

Process: WISDOM

Store Principles

KNOWLEDGE
Family Business
Sort Patterns
Garden [FBG] 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 Cultivation Holder

Portable Cultivation
Tower 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

 Selectrecommended / 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 private-
institutions
• 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