Selangor govt to local councils: Don’t let land go idle, put it to use for urban farming

Selangor's government has instructed local councils to avoid letting vacant land deteriorate or be taken over by unauthorized entities, such as foreign nationals. State Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim suggested that these authorities could lease the vacant land for urban farming purposes, including community gardens and private sector initiatives.

The objective is to manage idle urban land more effectively and utilize it for high-value agricultural activities. Izham informed the State Legislative Assembly that the state government has directed local government authorities (PBT) to identify vacant land and apply for leases to utilize the sites for community gardens, agricultural programs, or private parties.

He mentioned that the Petaling Jaya City Council was one of the local authorities that had initiated this program in phases. The Urban Agriculture Programme (Community Gardens) has seen a growing number of projects, from 39 involving 390 participants in 2024 to 66 projects involving 990 participants in 2025. Agricultural production from the program has also increased, from 33.6 tonnes to 49.9 tonnes, and over 200 community garden sites have been established within local authority areas.

Izham emphasized that this development not only promotes community involvement in urban agriculture but also helps boost food production at the community level and strengthens Selangor's food security efforts.