Designing a Model of the Urban Agricultural Effect on Food Security (Case Study: 22 Districts of Tehran Metropolis)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The world today is facing the problems of population increase, urbanization, increasing need for food, decreasing water resources and environmental destruction. Urban agriculture, as a part of urban activities, is considered an opportunity to make positive changes in the world's food system and produce high-quality food. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of designing a model of the urban agricultural effect on food security in tehran metropolis. The statistical population of the research consists of all learners participating in the urban agriculture training courses organized by the General Department of Education of the 22 districts of Tehran in 2018 (N = 726). The sample size was determined by using Cochran's formula, 164 people, and stratified random method with proportional assignment (according to the areas where they work among the 22 areas of Tehran municipality) was used for sampling. Data analysis was done using Smart PLS3 software.  According to the calculated indicators, the reliability and validity of the model were confirmed. The results showed that based on the model of the effect of urban agriculture on food security in Tehran city, urban agriculture explains a total of 0.85 of the dependent variable changes in food security. Also, the results of the investigation of the components of the dimensions of urban agriculture and food security indicate that the dimension of urban agriculture is, in order, of economic (β=0.975), environmental (β=0.967), social (β=0.963) and psychomotor functions, respectively. (β=0.851), is affected. that the aforementioned functions are considered to be the explanations of urban agriculture in Tehran Metropolis and have a significant effect on this phenomenon. The components of food security include access (β=0.970), use (β=0.969), sustainability (β=0.952), availability (β=0.939), and safety (β=0.914), which have the greatest effect on food security in order of priority.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Urban agriculture supports the goals of sustainable development such as environmental protection, health and nutrition, poverty reduction, building community capabilities, collaborative decision-making and economic development of the community and can help us realize the country's 20-year vision horizon, which is the enjoyment of health, prosperity, food security, proper distribution of income away from poverty, corruption and discrimination and benefiting from favorable environment. Therefore, the promotion of urban agriculture is one of the long-term priorities of planners, and therefore, in this regard, it seems necessary to develop an institutional framework and provide extension and training services for urban producers. At the same time, considering the acuteness of the crisis and the challenges of air pollution in the province and especially the city of Tehran, and considering the role of efficient management of urban agriculture in the city of Tehran in the production and promotion of qualitative and quantitative urban indicators and as a result reducing pollution. In addition, to keep the air and climate clean, the development of urban agriculture management is considered a necessity and can be taken into consideration by planners and provincial officials in order to help solve the pollution crisis. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of designing a model of the urban agricultural effect on food security in Tehran metropolis.

 

Methodology

In terms of paradigm, this research is of quantitative research type, based on the purpose of applied research type, and in terms of controlling the studied variables; it is non-experimental type, which was conducted as a survey. According to the application of structural equation modeling to examine and analyze the conceptual model of the research, the method of this research is correlation and variance-covariance matrix analysis. The statistical population of the research included all the people living in the city of Tehran who participated in the urban agriculture training courses organized by the General Department of Education of the 22 municipalities of Tehran in 2018, which according to the statistics, their number was equal to 726 people. The sample size was determined by using Cochran's formula, 164 people, and stratified random method with proportional assignment (according to the areas where they work among the 22 areas of Tehran municipality) was used for sampling. The tool of this research was a researcher-made questionnaire that was prepared in two parts. The first part was related to the personal and professional characteristics of the learners participating in the educational and extension courses held in the urban agriculture training courses, and the second part was based on the research objectives and included items that make up the structures of the urban agriculture functions, consisting of 4 factors of the social function of urban agriculture. (7 items), economic function of urban agriculture (6 items), environmental function of urban agriculture (6 items) and mental and physical function of urban agriculture (6 items) and also the structure of food security consisting of 5 factors of availability (consisting of 4 items), access (consisting of 6 items), sustainability (consisting of 4 items), usability (consisting of 5 items) and safety (consisting of object) was To measure this section, a 5-part spectrum from very low (1) to very high (5) was used. The rating scale was used to determine its validity and content validity and construct validity. The reliability of the questionnaire was also determined using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability tests, and values above 0.7 indicate the intensity of measurement error control in the structural equation model. 

Results

The findings of the research show that all the 4 functions of urban agriculture are very important from the point of view of the learners participating in the studied urban agriculture training courses. From the point of view of the studied learners, economic and psycho-motor functions are the most and least important among other functions of urban agriculture, respectively. Based on the results of the ranking of the 5 aspects of food security from the point of view of the learners participating in the studied urban agriculture training courses, it can be concluded that all dimensions of food security are very important. Also, from the point of view of the studied learners, access and safety dimensions are the most and least important among other dimensions of food security, respectively. The results showed that based on the model of the effect  of urban agriculture on food security in Tehran city, urban agriculture explains a total of 0.85 of the dependent variable changes in food security. Also, the results of the investigation of the components of the dimensions of urban agriculture and food security indicate that the dimension of urban agriculture is, in order, of economic (β=0.975), environmental (β=0.967), social (β=0.963) and psychomotor functions, respectively. (β=0.851), is affected. that the aforementioned functions are considered to be the explanations of urban agriculture in Tehran Metropolis and have a significant effect  on this phenomenon. The components of food security include access (β=0.970), use (β=0.969), sustainability (β=0.952), availability (β=0.939), and safety (β=0.914), which have the greatest effect  on food security in order of priority.

 

Conclusion

The findings of this research can be used for policy making and for planning and decision-making in order to strengthen the effect of urban agriculture on food security. In this regard, in order to solve the existing problems, the gap between the plans made and the policies undertaken must be filled.

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 54, Issue 1
March 2023
Pages 165-183

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