Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose – This study introduces a zakat-based model aimed at poverty reduction and enhancing food security in urban settings. Drawing upon the principles of Islamic social finance, the model integrates urban farming with the utilization of zakat, charity, and corporate social responsibility funds, offering sustainable financial avenues for disadvantaged individuals and social enterprises. The primary objective of this research is to design and pilot test a practical model that not only generates consistent financial income, but also bolsters food security and advances financial inclusion.
Methodology – This study reviews various models that have used Zakat funds for economic empowerment, conduct interviews, and hold focus group discussions. It proposes a zakat-based urban farming model for poverty alleviation and community empowerment using the theory of change. In collaboration with a leading Islamic bank in Malaysia, the model was pilot tested across selected residential communities in Malaysia.
Finding – The research findings demonstrated positive impacts both at the individual participant level and within the broader community. Serving as a replicable blueprint, this project envisions the transformation of urban spaces into productive landscapes, thereby ensuring sustainable livelihood, amplifying food security, and promoting financial inclusion.
Implication – Through this Zakat-based approach, the research underscores the profound impact of urban farming in catalyzing socio-economic change and advancing efforts towards poverty alleviation.
Originality – No previous research has introduced and pilot-tested Zakat-based urban farming solutions for Islamic financial institutions as a tool for Poverty Alleviation and financial inclusion
Keywords
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2024 Kinan Salim, Baharom Abdul Hamid, Ziyaad Mahomed, Wiaam Hassan
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References
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- Anwar, M. K., Ridlwan, A. A., & Laili, W. N. R. (2023). The role of Baitul Maal wat Tamwil in empowering MSMEs in Indonesia: A study of Indonesian Islamic microfinance institutions. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(4), e0913-e0913. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i4.913
- Azman, N. H. N., Masron, T. A., & Ibrahim, H. (2021). The significance of Islamic social finance in stabilising income for micro-entrepreneurs during the Covid-19 outbreak. Journal of Islamic Monetary Economics and Finance, 7, 115-136. https://doi.org/10.21098/jimf.v7i0.1307
- Bahri, E. S., Ali, J., & Aslam, M. M. M. (2022). A bibliometric analysis of the conceptual model of asnaf entrepreneur Success. International Journal of Economics, Management and Accounting, 30(1), 225-251. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijema.v30i1.1012
- Cumbers, A., Shaw, D., Crossan, J., & McMaster, R. (2018). The work of community gardens: Reclaiming place for community in the city. Work, Employment and Society, 32(1), 133-149. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017017695042
- Doyle, G. (2022). In the garden: Capacities that contribute to community groups establishing community gardens. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 14(1), 15-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2022.2045997
- Drobniak, A. (2012). The urban resilience–economic perspective. Journal of Economics and Management, 10, 5-20. https://www.ue.katowice.pl/fileadmin/_migrated/content_uploads/1_Drobniak_The_Urban_Resilience_%E2%80%93_Economic_Perspective.pdf
- Glover, T. D. (2021). Healthy garden plots? Harvesting stories of social connectedness from community gardens. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(11), 5747. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115747
- Farooq, S., Waqas, H. M., & Kunwal, N. (2019). Welfare impacts of microfinance on entrepreneurship and financial sustainability: A case study on Islamic and conventional micro financing. Pakistan Journal of Social Issues, 10. https://uog.edu.pk/downloads/journal/X/1.pdf
- Hashim, N., Mohamad, A., & Othman, A. (2020). The challenges encountered by zakat recipients entrepreneurs. International Journal of Zakat and Islamic Philanthropy, 2(1), 157-164. https://journal.zakatkedah.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Vol2_1_16.pdf.
- Hassan, N. M. (2015). Do capital assistance programs by zakat institutions help the poor? Procedia Economics and Finance, 31, 551-562. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)01201-0
- Hassan, N. M., & Rom, N. A. M. (2016). Mobile entrepreneur program by zakat institution: An exploratory study. The Social Sciences, 11, 7494-7497. https://docsdrive.com/?pdf=medwelljournals/sscience/2016/7494-7497.pdf
- Islam, M. S. (2021). Role of Islamic microfinance in women’s empowerment: Evidence from rural development scheme of Islami bank Bangladesh limited. ISRA International Journal of Islamic Finance, 13(1), 26-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIF-11-2019-0174
- Jackson, E. T. (2013). Interrogating the theory of change: Evaluating impact investing where it matters most. Journal of sustainable finance & investment, 3(2), 95-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2013.776257
- Joremi, L., Muda, R., & Kamaruddin, J. N. (2021). Enhancing financial management practices for zakat micro-entrepreneurs in the new normal through impact-focused framework: A conceptual Paper. Advances in Business Research International Journal, 7(1), 159-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.24191/abrij.v7i1.14303
- Khamis, M. R., Hashim, M. J., Arifin, N. A. M., Kamarudin, M. F., Radzi, F. M., & Rahman, A. A. (2021). Factors determining the success of ASNAF entrepreneurs through the ASNAF Entrepreneurship Program. Empirical Economics Letters. 20(8). 1327- 1338. https://oarep.usim.edu.my/jspui/bitstream/123456789/15365/1/Factors%20Determining%20the%20Success%20of%20ASNAF%20Entrepreneurs%20through%20the%20ASNAF%20Entrepreneurship%20Program.pdf
- Koomson, I., Villano, R. A., & Hadley, D. (2020). Effect of financial inclusion on poverty and vulnerability to poverty: Evidence using a multidimensional measure of financial inclusion. Social Indicators Research, 149(2), 613-639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02263-0
- Korth, M., Stewart, R., Van Rooyen, C., & De Wet, T. (2012). Microfinance: Development intervention or just another bank?. Journal of agrarian change, 12(4), 575-586. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0366.2012.00375.x
- Maîtrot, M., & Niño‐Zarazúa, M. (2017). Poverty and wellbeing impacts of microfinance: What do we know?. WIDER Working Paper 190. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3076781
- Mathur, O. P. (2013). Urban poverty in Asia. Asian Development Bank. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/59778/urban-poverty-asia.pdf.
- McGuire, L., Morris, S. L., & Pollard, T. M. (2022). Community gardening and wellbeing: The understandings of organisers and their implications for gardening for health. Health & Place, 75, 102773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102773
- Muggah, R. (2012). Researching the urban dilemma: Urbanization, poverty and violence. Igarapé Institute. https://igarape.org.br/en/researching-the-urban-dilemma-urbanization-poverty-and-violence/
- Murdad, R., Muhiddin, M., Osman, W. H., Tajidin, N. E., Haida, Z., Awang, A., & Jalloh, M. B. (2022). Ensuring urban food security in Malaysia during the Covid-19 pandemic—Is urban farming the answer? A review. Sustainability, 14(7), 4155. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074155
- Nettle, C. (2016). Community gardening as social action. Routledge.
- Ngahdiman, I, N., Terano, R., Mohamed, Z., & Sharifuddin, J. (2017). Factors affecting urban dwellers to practice urban agriculture. International Journal of Advanced Research. 5, 1580-1587. http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/4872
- Nurzaman, M. S., Annisa, N., & Hendharto, R. G. (2017). Evaluating the productive-based zakat program of BAZNAS: Case study of Western Indonesia. Working Papers-Puskas Baznas, 1. https://doi.org/10.37706/ijaz.v2i1.17
- Rogerson, C. M. (1998). Urban agriculture and urban poverty alleviation: South African debates. Agrekon, 37(2), 171-188. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/54788/files/05%20Rogerson%20-%20Junie%201998.pdf
- Rahman, M. M., Jafrullah, M., & Islam, A. T. (2008). Rural development scheme of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL): Assessment and challenges. International Journal of Economics, Management and Accounting, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.31436/ijema.v16i2.148
- Rosalina, H., & Bahri, E. S. (2022). Optimizing disbursement of zakat funds for asnaf entrepreneurs. ITQAN: Journal of Islamic Economics, Management, and Finance, 1(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.57053/itqan.v1i1.1
- Shiyuti, H. A., & Al-Habshi, S. M. (2018, November). An overview of asnaf entrepreneurship program by Lembaga Zakat Selangor, Malaysia. In 6th ASEAN Universities International Conference on Islamic Finance (AICIF), Manila, Philippines 14th & 15th November. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3299107
- Sunan Ibn Majah 2198, Book 12, Hadith 62. https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:2198
- Tacoli, C., McGranahan, G., & Satterthwaite, D. (2015). Urbanisation, rural-urban migration and urban poverty. London, UK: Human Settlements Group, International Institute for Environment and Development. https://www.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/10725IIED.pdf
- Thornton, P. K., Schuetz, T., Förch, W., Cramer, L., Abreu, D., Vermeulen, S., & Campbell, B. M. (2017). Responding to global change: A theory of change approach to making agricultural research for development outcome-based. Agricultural Systems, 152, 145-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.01.005
- United Nations Development Programme. (2017). Scaling up Islamic microfinance in Bangladesh through the private sector: Experience of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL). https://www.undp.org/publications/scaling-islamic-microfinance-bangladesh-through-private-sector-experience-islami-bank-bangladesh-limited-ibbl
- Verrinder, N. B., Zwane, K., Vaca, S., & Nixon, D. (2018). Evaluative tools in impact investing: Three case studies on the use of theories of change. African Evaluation Journal, 6(2), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4102/aej.v6i2.340
- World Bank. (2014). Global financial development report 2014: Financial inclusion. World Bank Group. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/225251468330270218/pdf/Global-financial-development-report-2014-financial-inclusion.pdf
- Weijermars, B. (2014). Microfinance: The road to development. Wageningen University. https://edepot.wur.nl/300781
- Wulandari, P. (2019). Enhancing the role of Baitul Maal in giving Qardhul Hassan financing to the poor at the bottom of the economic pyramid: Case study of Baitul Maal wa Tamwil in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 10(3), 382-391. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-01-2017-0005
- Wulandari, P. & Kassim, S. (2016). Issues and challenges in financing the poor: Case of Baitul Maal Wa Tamwil in Indonesia. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 34(2), 216-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-01-2015-0007
- Yaacob, A. C., Mohamed, S., Daut, A., Ismail, N., & Don, M. A. M. (2013). Zakat disbursement via capital assistance: A case study of Majlis Agama Islam Johor. Journal of Emerging Economies and Islamic Research, 1(2), 42-61. https://doi.org/10.24191/jeeir.v1i2.9121
References
Adnan, M.A. & Ajija, S.R. (2015). The effectiveness of Baitul Maal wat Tamwil in reducing poverty: The case of Indonesian Islamic microfinance institution. Humanomics, 31(2), 160-182. https://doi.org/10.1108/H-03-2012-0003
Anwar, M. K., Ridlwan, A. A., & Laili, W. N. R. (2023). The role of Baitul Maal wat Tamwil in empowering MSMEs in Indonesia: A study of Indonesian Islamic microfinance institutions. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(4), e0913-e0913. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i4.913
Azman, N. H. N., Masron, T. A., & Ibrahim, H. (2021). The significance of Islamic social finance in stabilising income for micro-entrepreneurs during the Covid-19 outbreak. Journal of Islamic Monetary Economics and Finance, 7, 115-136. https://doi.org/10.21098/jimf.v7i0.1307
Bahri, E. S., Ali, J., & Aslam, M. M. M. (2022). A bibliometric analysis of the conceptual model of asnaf entrepreneur Success. International Journal of Economics, Management and Accounting, 30(1), 225-251. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijema.v30i1.1012
Cumbers, A., Shaw, D., Crossan, J., & McMaster, R. (2018). The work of community gardens: Reclaiming place for community in the city. Work, Employment and Society, 32(1), 133-149. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017017695042
Doyle, G. (2022). In the garden: Capacities that contribute to community groups establishing community gardens. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 14(1), 15-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2022.2045997
Drobniak, A. (2012). The urban resilience–economic perspective. Journal of Economics and Management, 10, 5-20. https://www.ue.katowice.pl/fileadmin/_migrated/content_uploads/1_Drobniak_The_Urban_Resilience_%E2%80%93_Economic_Perspective.pdf
Glover, T. D. (2021). Healthy garden plots? Harvesting stories of social connectedness from community gardens. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(11), 5747. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115747
Farooq, S., Waqas, H. M., & Kunwal, N. (2019). Welfare impacts of microfinance on entrepreneurship and financial sustainability: A case study on Islamic and conventional micro financing. Pakistan Journal of Social Issues, 10. https://uog.edu.pk/downloads/journal/X/1.pdf
Hashim, N., Mohamad, A., & Othman, A. (2020). The challenges encountered by zakat recipients entrepreneurs. International Journal of Zakat and Islamic Philanthropy, 2(1), 157-164. https://journal.zakatkedah.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Vol2_1_16.pdf.
Hassan, N. M. (2015). Do capital assistance programs by zakat institutions help the poor? Procedia Economics and Finance, 31, 551-562. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)01201-0
Hassan, N. M., & Rom, N. A. M. (2016). Mobile entrepreneur program by zakat institution: An exploratory study. The Social Sciences, 11, 7494-7497. https://docsdrive.com/?pdf=medwelljournals/sscience/2016/7494-7497.pdf
Islam, M. S. (2021). Role of Islamic microfinance in women’s empowerment: Evidence from rural development scheme of Islami bank Bangladesh limited. ISRA International Journal of Islamic Finance, 13(1), 26-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIF-11-2019-0174
Jackson, E. T. (2013). Interrogating the theory of change: Evaluating impact investing where it matters most. Journal of sustainable finance & investment, 3(2), 95-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2013.776257
Joremi, L., Muda, R., & Kamaruddin, J. N. (2021). Enhancing financial management practices for zakat micro-entrepreneurs in the new normal through impact-focused framework: A conceptual Paper. Advances in Business Research International Journal, 7(1), 159-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.24191/abrij.v7i1.14303
Khamis, M. R., Hashim, M. J., Arifin, N. A. M., Kamarudin, M. F., Radzi, F. M., & Rahman, A. A. (2021). Factors determining the success of ASNAF entrepreneurs through the ASNAF Entrepreneurship Program. Empirical Economics Letters. 20(8). 1327- 1338. https://oarep.usim.edu.my/jspui/bitstream/123456789/15365/1/Factors%20Determining%20the%20Success%20of%20ASNAF%20Entrepreneurs%20through%20the%20ASNAF%20Entrepreneurship%20Program.pdf
Koomson, I., Villano, R. A., & Hadley, D. (2020). Effect of financial inclusion on poverty and vulnerability to poverty: Evidence using a multidimensional measure of financial inclusion. Social Indicators Research, 149(2), 613-639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02263-0
Korth, M., Stewart, R., Van Rooyen, C., & De Wet, T. (2012). Microfinance: Development intervention or just another bank?. Journal of agrarian change, 12(4), 575-586. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0366.2012.00375.x
Maîtrot, M., & Niño‐Zarazúa, M. (2017). Poverty and wellbeing impacts of microfinance: What do we know?. WIDER Working Paper 190. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3076781
Mathur, O. P. (2013). Urban poverty in Asia. Asian Development Bank. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/59778/urban-poverty-asia.pdf.
McGuire, L., Morris, S. L., & Pollard, T. M. (2022). Community gardening and wellbeing: The understandings of organisers and their implications for gardening for health. Health & Place, 75, 102773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102773
Muggah, R. (2012). Researching the urban dilemma: Urbanization, poverty and violence. Igarapé Institute. https://igarape.org.br/en/researching-the-urban-dilemma-urbanization-poverty-and-violence/
Murdad, R., Muhiddin, M., Osman, W. H., Tajidin, N. E., Haida, Z., Awang, A., & Jalloh, M. B. (2022). Ensuring urban food security in Malaysia during the Covid-19 pandemic—Is urban farming the answer? A review. Sustainability, 14(7), 4155. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074155
Nettle, C. (2016). Community gardening as social action. Routledge.
Ngahdiman, I, N., Terano, R., Mohamed, Z., & Sharifuddin, J. (2017). Factors affecting urban dwellers to practice urban agriculture. International Journal of Advanced Research. 5, 1580-1587. http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/4872
Nurzaman, M. S., Annisa, N., & Hendharto, R. G. (2017). Evaluating the productive-based zakat program of BAZNAS: Case study of Western Indonesia. Working Papers-Puskas Baznas, 1. https://doi.org/10.37706/ijaz.v2i1.17
Rogerson, C. M. (1998). Urban agriculture and urban poverty alleviation: South African debates. Agrekon, 37(2), 171-188. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/54788/files/05%20Rogerson%20-%20Junie%201998.pdf
Rahman, M. M., Jafrullah, M., & Islam, A. T. (2008). Rural development scheme of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL): Assessment and challenges. International Journal of Economics, Management and Accounting, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.31436/ijema.v16i2.148
Rosalina, H., & Bahri, E. S. (2022). Optimizing disbursement of zakat funds for asnaf entrepreneurs. ITQAN: Journal of Islamic Economics, Management, and Finance, 1(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.57053/itqan.v1i1.1
Shiyuti, H. A., & Al-Habshi, S. M. (2018, November). An overview of asnaf entrepreneurship program by Lembaga Zakat Selangor, Malaysia. In 6th ASEAN Universities International Conference on Islamic Finance (AICIF), Manila, Philippines 14th & 15th November. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3299107
Sunan Ibn Majah 2198, Book 12, Hadith 62. https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:2198
Tacoli, C., McGranahan, G., & Satterthwaite, D. (2015). Urbanisation, rural-urban migration and urban poverty. London, UK: Human Settlements Group, International Institute for Environment and Development. https://www.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/10725IIED.pdf
Thornton, P. K., Schuetz, T., Förch, W., Cramer, L., Abreu, D., Vermeulen, S., & Campbell, B. M. (2017). Responding to global change: A theory of change approach to making agricultural research for development outcome-based. Agricultural Systems, 152, 145-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.01.005
United Nations Development Programme. (2017). Scaling up Islamic microfinance in Bangladesh through the private sector: Experience of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL). https://www.undp.org/publications/scaling-islamic-microfinance-bangladesh-through-private-sector-experience-islami-bank-bangladesh-limited-ibbl
Verrinder, N. B., Zwane, K., Vaca, S., & Nixon, D. (2018). Evaluative tools in impact investing: Three case studies on the use of theories of change. African Evaluation Journal, 6(2), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4102/aej.v6i2.340
World Bank. (2014). Global financial development report 2014: Financial inclusion. World Bank Group. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/225251468330270218/pdf/Global-financial-development-report-2014-financial-inclusion.pdf
Weijermars, B. (2014). Microfinance: The road to development. Wageningen University. https://edepot.wur.nl/300781
Wulandari, P. (2019). Enhancing the role of Baitul Maal in giving Qardhul Hassan financing to the poor at the bottom of the economic pyramid: Case study of Baitul Maal wa Tamwil in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 10(3), 382-391. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-01-2017-0005
Wulandari, P. & Kassim, S. (2016). Issues and challenges in financing the poor: Case of Baitul Maal Wa Tamwil in Indonesia. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 34(2), 216-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-01-2015-0007
Yaacob, A. C., Mohamed, S., Daut, A., Ismail, N., & Don, M. A. M. (2013). Zakat disbursement via capital assistance: A case study of Majlis Agama Islam Johor. Journal of Emerging Economies and Islamic Research, 1(2), 42-61. https://doi.org/10.24191/jeeir.v1i2.9121