Value Creation of Urban Agriculture in Bangkok, Thailand

บทคัดย่อ

     Urban agriculture (UA) has been used as "an innovation driver" within the agricultural sector to deal with the global crisis in urban areas. This study aims to investigate activities and opinions toward the value creation of UA among Bangkok residents. Data was collected through questionnaires with 385 respondents and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and F-test. Results showed that more than one-third of the respondents (39.7%) had experience in UA practices, with 3 main activities including 1) food growing, 2) ornamental plants, and 3) livestock and fisheries. Additionally, the respondents expressed high opinions regarding the value creation of UA across various aspects. Emotional value (𝑥̅=4.20) received the highest mean score, followed by functional value (𝑥̅= 4.08), life-changing value (𝑥̅=3.96), and social impact value (𝑥̅=3.87). According to hypothesis testing, age and marital status were factors affecting opinion level on the value creation of UA at a significantly different level of 0.01. This revealed that older respondents and those who were married tended to appreciate the health benefits and food security more than younger and unmarried respondents. Moreover, the findings indicated that UA has the potential to create various positive outcomes, from fostering emotional well-being and providing functional benefits like access to fresh produce, facilitating life-changing experiences, and promoting social connection within communities. Eventually, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to formulate laws, policies, development plans, and activities that promote and support UA initiatives. A focus on raising citizens' awareness and appreciation for the value creation of UA, policymakers can be able to encourage sustainable UA practices that contribute to the well-being of Bangkok residents and the resilience of urban future communities.