Market Pressure Based on International Food Standards in Export-Scale Urban Farming: Political Ecology Perspective

Abstract

Urban farming has been transformed into urban agricultural activities oriented towards optimizing economic benefits through export market involvement. However, the expansion of the market has consequences for farmers. The involvement of urban farmers in export trade causes market pressures that affect agricultural production practices. This research used qualitative research methods. There were 27 informants in this study. Researchers collected data to determine market pressures faced by export-scale urban farmers in Bandung Metropolitan. Data collection techniques used in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The results showed that the market had put pressure on export-scale urban farmers in Bandung Metropolitan to meet international food standards. The mechanism was constructed to encourage farmers to adopt more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. However, international food standards are mandatory for export requirements. It meant that urban farmers still interpreted implementing international food standards as an administrative formality, not as a scheme of critical reasoning about environmental problems due to intensive agricultural practices. Therefore, market pressure by international food standards implementation is paradoxical and ineffective because farmers interpreted it as meeting export requirements rather than as awareness of farmers' environmental responsibilities to deliver healthy and environmentally friendly products.