Supporting Urban Farming: ALIT Indonesia Tests Rice Paddy Innovation Using Recycled Water Gallons
SURABAYA — Limited space in urban areas has not stopped ALIT Indonesia from exploring innovative ways to support food security and environmental sustainability. By repurposing used plastic water gallons and incorporating geomembrane technology, ALIT Indonesia has launched a pilot project to create a compact rice-growing system for urban farming in Pandaan.
The innovative program responds to two key challenges: making efficient use of limited urban space and managing plastic waste that is difficult to decompose. By giving used water gallons a new purpose, the growing containers offer a compact, affordable, and flexible option that can be adapted to small-scale spaces.
From a practical standpoint, used water gallons offer several advantages over conventional pots. Their height and depth provide sufficient space for rice roots to develop, while a geomembrane layer helps retain water and moisture within the growing medium. This allows the system to recreate some of the water-management conditions needed for rice cultivation while minimizing the risk of leakage.
The pilot project is currently progressing according to its planned timeline. With an estimated growing period of approximately three months, or around 90–100 days, the rice plants have now reached their second month of growth. Field observations have been encouraging, with healthy rice clumps developing and some grains already beginning to turn yellow.
The engineered rice-growing system is not focused solely on harvest yields. It also serves as an educational platform for introducing the principles of zero waste and sustainability. Repurposing discarded materials can help reduce the costs associated with small-scale urban farming while making productive use of materials that might otherwise become waste.
As the rice enters its final maturation stage, ALIT Indonesia’s internal team continues to provide regular care and monitor the plants until the harvest in the third month. The eventual harvest evaluation will provide an important reference for measuring the total grain yield produced by the pilot system.
Looking ahead, ALIT Indonesia hopes that this gallon-based urban farming model can be replicated by members of the surrounding community as a practical way to grow food independently in limited home spaces.
