Introduction

Community gardens are sections of land collectively gardened for the specific purpose of
growing fruits, vegetables and/or herbs for self-consumption; and include allotments, school
gardens as well as teaching/demonstration gardens. Contemporary community gardens first
became widespread across the United Kingdom, Europe and North America during the First and
Second World Wars to supplement war-time food shortages (Ginn, 2012). These gardens played
an important role in national food security, by supplementing rations and providing essential
nutrients that were unable to be otherwise supplied by the food environment of the time
(Buckingham, 2005). Even though these community gardening concept is a quite a novel concept
to Sri Lanka, it can become a solution for skyrocketing food inflation and increasing food
insecurity with the Sri Lankan households.
Background
1.1 High food inflation and low quality products
According the latest world bank data 19% of the total Sri Lankan population are considered as
urban dwellers. Even though they are privileged to enjoy a quality life by fulfilling all the basic
needs, As the latest Central Bank reports reveal the food inflation in November 2022 is as high
as 73.7 % where the considerable amount of monthly household earnings have to be spend on
food. When it comes to the urban scenarios, the situations are much worsen. Unlike the rural
settings the vegetable and fruits are not freely available within home garden or in the
surrounding. Unless they grow with in the gardens, they have to purchase whatever the food they
consume. Even though spend large sum of money on food, the quality of the food, specially the
fruits and vegetables is doubtable. Unlike the limited space they have, majority of the urban
dwellers might not be able to grow the food they want. Whatever they grow might have to be
limited in to a one or two pots which only occupies a very limited space. Moreover, the urban
dwellers are highly vulnerable for Non Communicable diseases as their food patterns contains
more junk food with high fat and starch. Even though it has been identified that urban diets
should contain more fresh vegetables and fruits, the lack of availability of good quality, fresh
products remain as a major problem.
1.2 High willingness to engage in farming
Due to the limited space, majority of the urban dwellers might not be able to grow the food they
want. Whatever they grow might have to be limited in to a one or two pots which only occupies a
very limited space. Since majority of the modern urban dwellers are migrants from rural villages
who belong to the agricultural families where agriculture is not something totally new to them.
Apart from that, Since the COVID 19 pandemic, many urban dwellers still continue to work
from home who has time and willingness to engage in agriculture.
Rationale
The increasing prices of vegetables and fruits, low quality products have created a huge desire in
urban households to give their own foods. However, the limited space has constrained their need
of engaging in agriculture. The community garden concept can be identified as a viable solution
to satisfy the above mentioned needs and wants of the urban dwellers.

Objectives
The main objective of this project is to increase the household food security within the selected
urban households. It also comprises with the below mentioned another specific objectives
Reduce the monthly house hold food expenditure on fresh fruits and vegetables
Increase the household fresh vegetables and fruit consumption
Reduce the health cost by consuming good quality products and getting adequate amount of
exercises

Project Description
This project will aim 50 urban families located in Kaduwela suburb. This will specially include
the people who are living in urban apartments, urban dwellers who are working from home and
retired professionals. Each household will get their own plots where they can select the crops that
would like to grow including both fruits and vegetables.
Financial Analysis
A background study was conducted before the financial analysis. Then the costs and benefits
were identified and quantified accordingly. Several assumptions were also made.

Assumption are as follows

 All the participant will be enthusiastically engaged in the project and will not make any
issues with their neighbor urban farmers
 All the participant will not give up the project in the middle at look after their crops carefully
 Macroeconomic and political stability will sustained
 The participants those who do not have the basic farming knowledge will participate the
initial farming practice workshops and brush up their knowledge
 The community garden will not face acute weather conditions or severe pest and disease out
breaks

Identified Costs and Benefits

Costs
 Rent for the bare land
 soil testing Establishment of water, electricity and fencing

 Basic land preparation and preparation of plots

 Planting materials
 Labor cost for security and maintenance
 Water and electricity utilities
 Consultation fees for agricultural specialist
 Land preparation after one cropping season

Benefits
 Reduced cost of monthly household expenditure on vegetables and fruits
 Income earned by selling the surplus production of vegetables and fruits
Data Sources used to quantify the costs and benefits

Cost/Benifit Unit References

Cost
Rent for the bare land per month Ikman.lk land sales
soil testing Establishment of water, electricity Ceylon Electricity board
and fencing one time Water and drainage board
Basic land preparation and preparation of plots onetime
Planting materials six months Department of Agriculture
Labour cost for security and maintenance per month
Water and electricity utilties per month
Consultation fees for agricultural specialist one time
Land preperation after one cropping season twice a year
Benifits
Costs saved from consuming vegetables s and HIES data – Department of
fruits from the community garden per month Census and Statistics

The following results were obtained in the financial analysis

IRR rate 23%
guess rate 0.3
discount rate 0.1.
Present Value of Cost in LKR- 78,818,181.82
Present Value of Benefits in LKR- 81,818,181.82
Net Present Value in LKR 3,000,000.00
Benefit Cost Ratio - 1.038062284

According to the results, the NPV has a positive value and BCRR is also more than 1 which
indicates the positivity of the project.
Economic Analysis
Identified economic costs and benefits can be mentioned as below

Economic benefits
Reduced cost for paying gyms, physical training centers or keep the good health
Reduced cost on other hobby/recreational activities like watching movies, picnics

Economic Costs
Reduced income of engaging in any part time work during free time
Reduced income of local retail fruits and vegetable sellers

The following results were obtained via economic analysis

IRR rate 36%

guess rate 0.3
discount rate 0.1.
Present Value of Cost in LKR- 116,181,818.18
Present Value of Benefits in LKR- 122,727,272.73
Net Present Value in LKR - 6,545,454.55
Benefit Cost Ratio - 1.056338028

Detailed Economic analysis sheet is attached in annex 3

Sensitivity Analysis
Based on the results of the financial and economic analysis it is clear that the project is financially viable.
Sensitivity analysis is a model that determines how to target variables are affected based on changes in
other variables known as input variables. In this project, the sensitivity analysis was done base on the
price changes as an increase of 10%, 15%, and 20%
If the prices increased by 10%

Environmental Impact
This project could generate many environmental benefits to the urban setting. Urban land spaces
are rapidly shrinking with increasing population. This community garden can also be served as
an urban forest that can improve air and soil quality, improve water filtration, reduce
neighborhood waste, reduce food transportation miles, and increase the biodiversity of plants and
animals. Changes to the local environment can provide additional benefits to the surrounding
area, such as reducing air pollution and smells. By planting native plants, biodiversity is
supported and sustained, as ecosystems can be strengthened. Biodiversity, or biological variety
of life, requires and supports strong ecosystems. An ecosystem consists of plants, animals, and
other organisms and requires the right conditions – including weather and landscape – to sustain
itself. All parts of the ecosystem rely upon another, so invasive plants or a lack of native plants
can dramatically change a local ecosystem, which can then endanger animals. Community
gardens that focus on native plants or vegetables indirectly or directly influence ecosystems.
They can provide habitats for organisms or be used as a food source by local wildlife. Moreover,
Birds, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators can be benefitted through the community gardens,
as well as other wildlife and organisms.
Social Impact
Majority of the urban dwellers live a isolated life where they do not have much social
relationships between the neibhours. Even the family members might rarely see each other.
Engaging with a community garden can be helped to strengthen their social relationships.
Moreover, some participants can donate their excess yield to the poor families living in the same
area. Further, community garden creates few employment opportunities as well. Thus the
younger generation who rarely spend time with agriculture also can spend their free time in
helping their family members with gardening. Thus, it is kind of a learning experience for them.
Families can work together in their plots during weekends which helps to strengthen their family
bonds.
Special Risks and Challenges
Despite having the potential to provide numerous benefits to communities, community gardens
face a number of obstacles which threaten their existence. Many of the challenges Community
will relate to ownership of the community garden, organizational issue and leadership problems.
Moreover, issues of local policy and access to community garden resources present additional
obstacles to the initiation and long term maintenance of community gardens.
In terms of risks the wild animal attacks may be a reason to reduce the yield and discourage the
growers. Specially the monkeys and porcupines’ attacks can be occurred during day and night.
Other than acute weather conditions and pest and disease out breaks might also be a risks to
achieve project goals. Moreover, if one plot gets affected with disease, there will be risk of
spreading to other plants as well. Due to that careful monitoring of plant is essential. Some
participant might consider and work to keep the community garden clean and tidy, where some
might not. So it might impact on the overall cleanness of the garden. Since farming is associated
with tools and equipment, hazards and injures cannot be avoided. First aid kits can be placed
within the garden and the workers can be given with basic first aid training. Even though the
community garden aims to develop peace and unity among its participants, the conflicts might be
happened among participants when sharing common resources.

Conclusion