Home gardens

Information is crucial for the development of any sector. Agriculture is not an exception as vital information related to farming needs to be passed down to farmers and other important stakeholders without delay. It is important to ensure proper linkages among the various stakeholders so that they can easily share information that is relevant at various stages of farming. The latest ICT trends play a key role in shaping and reshaping communication and interaction among involved parties. There are many technology driven information dissemination methods, which have been initiated by various parties, including the government, private, non-profit making bodies and independent research groups. This chapter explains the various attempts to integrate ICT within Sri Lankan agriculture communities and how the focus is changing from information dissemination towards facilitating interactions among the stakeholders. The chapter starts with a brief introduction to the present agriculture information society, followed by the latest information and communication technology (ICT) interventions taking place in the agriculture field. Prevailing issues and limitations in these ICT-based information dissemination approaches initiated by government, private, non-profit making sectors and independent research groups is explained next, giving due recognition to various factors that has contributed to adoption of ICT initiatives. The chapter ends with a note on the possibilities for future focus for ICT activities in an agriculture information society. Agriculture information society Agriculture plays an important role in the Sri Lankan economy. Agriculture provides a direct source of income for around 31% of the population (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2013b). The rural population in Sri Lanka is around 85% (World Bank, 2014), and agriculture is both a direct and indirect source of living for about 65% of the population who live in these rural areas. The contribution of agriculture to the country's gross domestic production is about 10.8% (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2013a). Right information delivered at the right time is vital for successful farming. Farmers need information related to various stages of crop growth, pest and disease problems, and marketing. A study conducted by De Silva & Ratnadiwakara (2008) reports that information search cost accounts for 11% of the total cost, and nearly 70% of the transaction cost. Information search costs arises from the need to obtain information related to decisions such as the crops to plant, agronomic practices, pest and disease identification and management, harvesting, storage and post-harvest practices. Information systems which provide the required information are described in Table 1. Transaction costs are incurred in transactions related to the purchase of inputs such as seed, fertilizer, and pesticides, and also in the sale of produce. Additional transaction costs are seen when farmers deal with external agents indirectly through Farmer Organizations. In such instances transaction costs arise between farmers and the Farmer Organizations, and also between the Farmer Organizations and the external agencies such as input suppliers or buyers. Appropriate information systems can reduce the transaction costs incurred in such situations. At present most of the information obtained, and transactions conducted are through traditional mechanisms. Generally in Sri Lanka farmers have been obtaining information through the farm visits of, or the office visits to, extension agents. Thus, if the time spent by the farmers for this activity is taken also into account appropriately the information cost is bound to increase. Furthermore, it is noted that this cost analysis is from the perspective of the farmer. When the time and other associated cost, such as the transport cost, of the extension agent is also taken into account the actual cost of such information would IGI Global Microsoft Word 2007 Template Reference templateInstructions.pdf for detailed instructions on using this document.

Traditional settlements in the dry zone have undergone several changes. An important one of them is the shift of location or the expansion of the hamlet towards the upper portion of the land catena. This has led to reduce the dissimilarities between home gardens in traditional villages and that in major irrigation schemes. Soil moisture deficiency and infertility make this environment somewhat precarious for rapid development into a matured home garden. Observations indicate that these home gardens are slowly progressing towards an ecologically sound vegetation which consists of a mixture of endemic and introduced plant species. Hence, the anatomy of matured home gardens in the dry zone can be used in planning new settlement areas as it has been time-tested to become sustainable. Results of a home garden survey carried out in the central dry zone showed that the presence of a water source makes a significant impact on the floristic composition of the homestead. There is a distinct ratio between the large tree density of endemic and introduced plant species, but the ratio is different depending upon the availability of water. Although the total plant density of introduced species is higher than that of endemic species, a higher density of natural large trees is found in the dry zone home gardens. This attributes to the fact that endemic species are grown better under the harsh soil and moisture conditions creating a favourable microclimate for the introduced species. Adoption of such a strategy learnt from nature could definitely result in a successful home garden model for the dry zone conditions. The paper introduces the relevant guidelines for planning home garden vegetation on the basis of data gathered in the study.

Estudio interdisciplinario que incluye materiales arqueológicos, historia, etnobotánica y antropología social. Estudio de los orígenes de los huertos en Yucatán, del dolor maya surgido con la conquista española en la península y sus políticas de congregaciones y del fundo legal. Se incluye trabajo in situ en los huertos mayas de Yaxchilán, colecta de plantas y sus respectivas clasificaciones. Apoyaron el proyecto y colaboraron con él el arqueólogo Lorenzo Ochoa Salas (+) del Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas de la UNAM y la doctora Heike vibras del Colegio de Postgraduados (COLPOS) unidad Montecillo. Esta ilustre etnobotánica cotejó toda la clasificación de planta e hizo las correcciones correspondientes.

Home gardens in Sri Lanka offer a highly diversified and economically viable form of land use. They produce a variety of products such as food, fruits, medicine, spices, fuel wood and timber.
Many home gardens in the Central highlands are under-utilized. Various programmes are being implemented to enhance the productivity of these home gardens by various authorities.
Sustainable land management is of vital importance in improving the home garden productivity. As the selected districts in the Central Highlands are highly vulnerable to land degradation especially due to erosion of top soil and consequent reservoir sedimentation, the adoption of SLM practices in all agricultural lands will enhance the land productivity.

In the United States, interest in urban farms and community gardens is flourishing, yet the urban home food garden (UHFG) and its contributions to urban systems have been overlooked and understudied. To begin to address this gap, we are conducting a mixed methods study of African American, Chinese-origin and Mexican-origin households with home gardens in Chicago, IL. Study methods include in-depth interviews, participant observation, ethnobotanical surveys and analysis of the chemical and physical properties of garden soils. As of this writing, findings indicate that home gardening has an array of beneficial effects, contributing to household food budgets and community food systems, the reproduction of cultural identity and urban biodiversity. The majority of informants in the study were internal or international migrants. For these individuals, gardening, culture-specific food plant assemblages and the foodways they support represent a continuation of cultural practices and traditional agroecological knowledge associated with their place of origin. The gardens of some migrant households also harbor urban agrobiodiversity with roots in the Global South. At the same time, gardens may have less salubrious effects on urban systems and populations. A lack of knowledge of safe gardening practices may expose vulnerable populations to environmental hazards such as soil contaminants. Gardeners in this study reported using synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides, sometimes indiscriminately, and the repeated application of synthetic fertilizers and compostmay contribute to the nutrient loading of urban stormwater runoff. These effects may be moderated by the relatively low bulk density and high porosity of garden soils due to tillage and the application of organic matter, which can be expected to enhance stormwater infiltration. While the UHFG’s potential contributions to urban systems are significant, outreach and research are needed to help gardeners grow food safely and sustainably in ways that contribute to overall ecosystem health.

Elephant foot yam is a very coomon vegetable usually grown in the homestead areas in Bangladesh. It can be easily grown and does not require huge labour and investment as well. On the other hand, it is a highly productive vegetable and it can fetch higher profit to the growers. Crmels are planted at the begining of the summer (March-April) and after three - four months 2.50 - 3.50 Kg of big size corms can be harvested from each of the plants and the most interesting thing is that its supply can be ensured in the peak monsoon season when there is huge crisis of vegetables in the kitchen market. Besides its traditional use as boiled yam, in the curry and also as fry; good quality pickles can be prepared from it. Pickles preparing methods from elephant foot yam has been described in this article.

... 4. Lui 4. Doc mung 4. Ngua Ngua 4. Nuoc 4. Nuoc sagittifolium) 5. Doc mung 5. Tam dao xanh 5. Nuoc Nuoc Ngot 5. Sap 5. Sap 6. Tam dao xanh 6. Tam dao tia 6. Cao 7. Tam dao ... Trinh, LN, JW Watson, NN Hue, NN De, NV Minh, P. Chu, BR Sthapit and PB Eyzaguirre. ... Tu Giay. ...

Survey of local market and villages around Ambo, Western Highlands of Ethiopia identified a group of herbal species regularly used in preparation of spice mixes for traditional Ethiopian dishes. The herbal species, local (Amheric) names being Basobila, Kosorat, Tosegn, Sega matbasha, Tenadam and Altufa, were not reported as a group before. The specimens collected from the market and village were documented with botanical identification, ethnobotanical investigation and role in the livelihood of the poor small farmers. Field survey indicated the species being grown in home gardens of nearby villages, their cultivation, marketing, preparation of the spice mixes and dishes traditional to the women only. Information and literature survey suggest, apart from socio-economic importance, these wild herbs have bright potential for poverty alleviation, improved women’s contribution to family income, small farmers’ adaptability to climate change. The issues of domestication, selection / breedi...

Survey of local market and villages around Ambo, Western Highlands of Ethiopia identified a group of herbal species regularly used in preparation of spice mixes for traditional Ethiopian dishes. The herbal species, local (Amheric) names being Basobila, Kosorat, Tosegn, Sega matbasha, Tenadam and Altufa, were not reported as a group before. The specimens collected from the market and village were documented with botanical identification, ethnobotanical investigation and role in the livelihood of the poor small farmers. Field survey indicated the species being grown in home gardens of nearby villages, their cultivation, marketing, preparation of the spice mixes and dishes traditional to the women only. Information and literature survey suggest, apart from socio-economic importance, these wild herbs have bright potential for poverty alleviation, improved women’s contribution to family income, small farmers’ adaptability to climate change. The issues of domestication, selection / breedi...

The objective of this study was to estimate the richness and the diversity of fruit tree species cultivated in Boa Vista’s home gardens, as well as to determine what species the local urban population prefers. Two neighborhoods that originated during the city’s expansion in 1982 were sampled: (1) BEst – Bairro dos Estados (North Zone) and (2) BAsa – Bairro Asa Branca (West Zone). Seven hundred and twenty-two home gardens were surveyed in BEst (March 6 to 22, 2004), and 339 in BAsa (April 7 to July 1, 2004). Thirty-six species (19 botanical families) were observed in BEst, and 37 (20 families) in BAsa, totaling 43 species (20 families). Thirty species (69.8%) in 19 families (95%) occurred in both neighborhoods, suggesting common fruit preferences. The three largest indices of preference value (IVP) were coconut (Cocos nucifera L. - BEst: 19.4% and BAsa: 20.5%), mango (Mangifera indica L. - BEst: 14.9% and BAsa: 22.5%) and rose-apple (Syzygium malaccence (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry - BEst: 10.5% and BAsa: 10.1%). All of them are exotic (originating in Southeast Asia) and together had IVPs of 44.9% (BEst) and 53.0% (BAsa). These results suggest that the cultivation of fruit trees in the home gardens of Boa Vista shows a pattern that concentrates choices in a few non-Amazonian species that are traditionally preferred because of their successful fruit production.

Local knowledge of cultivated plants in home gardens has a long tradition in Bali. In order to study this tradition in depth, an ethnobotanical study was conducted in thirteen traditional villages, and data on home gardens was collected through key informant interviews and semi-structured interviews. Thirty-six species of cultivated plants comprising 29 genera and 20 families have been documented, of which 37.50% are native to the Malesian region, 21.43% to the Indian region, and 12.50% to the Indochinese region. 33.33% of all recorded plant species are trees, especially fruit species. The major use categories reported for cultivated plants were as vegetables (46%), medicines (23%), and as edible fruits (20%). However, 22.22% of all recorded plants appear in more than one use category. Cassava [Manihot esculenta Crantz], banana [Musa paradisiaca L.], sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Poir.], papaya [Carica papaya L.], and ridged gourd [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.] were identified as the main sources of plant vegetables consumed among the local population. Many plants are typical of home gardens throughout the tropics, but species richness in home gardens differed substantially between villages according to the level of preservation of traditional uses. In general, home gardens provide a broad and diverse basis for self-sufficiency, and it is important to promote awareness of traditional uses of cultivated plants.

... These are locally termed as bari 1 in the plains and ghar-bari 2(differentiated from pakho-bari 3 and khar-bari 4 ... For this reason, a number of spices, such as chili, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon,garlic, shallot, onion, fenugreek, coriander and timur (Xanthoxylum armatum) among ...

An attempt was made to develop an assessment indicator combining the most important parameters, which decide the environmental richness of a plant community. Strata coverage, species richness and plant density were included in the following formula to describe the environmental richness as: ER = S. √ , where ER is environmental richness, K is acoefficient to represent stratal coverage and N is the number of plants per 100 sq.m for large (L), medium (M) and small (S) canopy types and S is the number of species per 100sq. m. A plant composition survey was carried out in a selected forest block of 25 m x 25 m at Paindikulama in the Nachchaduwa watershed in 1997 to assess the environmental richness in natural forest. A comparison was then made with results obtained from a previous home garden survey conducted in the same watershed. During the survey 31 plant species were identified and the total number of plants surveyed was 1360. The average plant density was 218 per 100 m 2. Environmental richness of this forest block was found as high as 108, whereas the value for home gardens has ranged from 0.7 to 34.7. Results also revealed that the contribution made to environmental richness was higher (75%) by small canopy plants compared to large (3%) and medium (22%) categories. This may be due to the selective felling of large trees and subsequent emergence of small plants in the exposed patches. Results conclude that man-made home gardens could only achieve about one third of the environmental richness of natural forest.

An explanatory survey was conducted to assess the contribution of plant diversity to the ecological and socio-economic condition of the rural household in the offshore island of Bangladesh. Assessment was done by means of multistage random sampling. The homestead sizes of the study area were classified into 3 groups viz, large (>0.25 ha), medium (0.05–0.25 ha) and small (

With increasing demand for fuel wood and timber and the growing concern on
environmental protection, planners and implementers of the watershed and rural
development projects are mindfully concentrating their efforts on tree planting programs.
Success of the program must be monitored and evaluated not only on productivity but
also on the impact of it on environmental protection. In assessing tree planting
programmes the latter can be assessed through an index termed ‘Environmental
Richness of Plant Community (ERPC)’. The index (ERPC) should emphasize three
main aspects. They are plant diversity, stratal coverage and plant density. The objective
of this paper is to introduce the above environmental assessment index (ERPC), classify
existing dry zone home gardens on the basis of environmental richness, nature of
variation of the index among dry zone home gardens, and make recommendations for the
plant composition of home gardens to be environmentally rich. The ERPC can be
defined as;
ERPC = S (kLNL + kMNM + kSNS), where S is the number of species per 100 m2,
kL, kM and kS are coefficients to denote stratal effect of large, medium and small trees
and NL, NM and NS are number of plants per 100 m2 under large, medium and small
canopy categories.
The study was carried out by surveying 51 home gardens in the central dry zone of Sri
Lanka. The results indicated that the environmental richness decreases exponentially as
the home garden size increases. A high environmental richness level was found in 20
percent of the home gardens. In these home gardens average number of plants per 100 m2
was 2.9, 6.3 and 6.7 under large, medium and small canopy categories respectively.
Average number of species per 100 m2 found in environmentally rich home gardens was
0.6, 1.2 and 1.1 under same canopy categories. Results also revealed that in reality all
criteria which determine the environmental richness are low in environmentally poor
home gardens and vis-a-vis. This indicates that for a home garden to become
environmentally rich improvement must be made simultaneously to increase both plants
and species densities with an approximate ratio of 1:2:2 among large, medium and small
canopy types respectively. This approach can be used to assess any plant community on
its environmental richness and improve accordingly.

The current state of jackfruit diversity within home gardens in seven unions of Chapai Nawabganj District of Bangladesh was investigated in a comparative study on 210 home gardens, interview's of 335 villagers and screening on 1400 jackfruit plants. The report highlighted the gross lack of scientific information about home gardens for in situ conservation of jackfruit morphotypes and emphasized the urgent need for a systematic research upon which future strategies for home gardens in Bangladesh can be based. Researchers applied folk classification, ethnobotanical and morphological measurement to obtain sustainable design for natural link between conservation and development. 15 landraces and two separate communities were identified by the local farmers. Samples from the selected sites exhibited significant variation for six quantitative characteristics evaluated for phenotypic diversity of jackfruit. On age related

Survey of local market and villages around Ambo, Western Highlands of Ethiopia identified a group of herbal species regularly used in preparation of spice mixes for traditional Ethiopian dishes. The herbal species, local (Amheric) names being Basobila, Kosorat, Tosegn, Sega matbasha, Tenadam and Altufa, were not reported as a group before. The specimens collected from the market and village were documented with botanical identification, ethnobotanical investigation and role in the livelihood of the poor small farmers. Field survey indicated the species being grown in home gardens of nearby villages, their cultivation, marketing, preparation of the spice mixes and dishes traditional to the women only. Information and literature survey suggest, apart from socio-economic importance, these wild herbs have bright potential for poverty alleviation, improved women’s contribution to family income, small farmers’ adaptability to climate change. The issues of domestication, selection / breedi...

Status and Composition of Plant Genetic Diversity in Nepalese Home Gardens Abishkar Subedi, Rojee Suwal, Resham Gautam, Sharmila Sunwar and Pratap Shrestha ABSTRACT ... We thank Mr. S. Basnet for the data compilation and Mr. P. Biswakarma for the data analysis. ...