Crop associations of home gardens in Welayta and Gurage in Southern Ethiopia.

Abstract

Home-gardens of Welayta and Gurage, southern Ethiopia, were studied for possible patterns of crop association. A sample of 36 home-gardens were inspected yielding a total of 60 crop species with an average of 14.4 crops per garden. Crops included were some Ethiopian domesticates and many others belonging to various horticultural groups and life-forms. The distinctive feature of this agro-ecosystem is its polycultural nature with a universal occurrence of enset (Ensete ventricosum). The association among 30 of the most frequent crops and their positions within each garden was studied from detailed data collected in 18 of the representative home-gardens selected by systematic random sampling from among the 36. Application of Two Way Indicator Species Analysis and Principal Components Analysis on the qualitative data matrix (presence or absence of 30 crop species in 18 home-gardens) produced constellations of gardens and crops. Some crop constellations were aggregates of starchy root-crops, legumes and leafy vegetables; suggesting the optimal mix in terms of crop co-existence, nutritional complementarity and family preferences. The groupings of gardens and crops reflect on-going differentiations influenced by provenance, socio-cultural factors and the rural-urban milieu. Some crops are strongly associated with the most extensive crop (enset) as demonstrated by frequent co-occurrence and adjacent occurrence. Home-gardens in Welayta and Gurage have evolved through generations of gradual intensification in response to increasing human pressure and the corresponding shortage of arable land. Crop constellations produced by the analyses indicated the optimal crop mix for meeting dietary and other family needs. The home-garden is therefore realized as an important self-sustaining agro-ecosystem with the dual functions of production and on-farm conservation of the agro-biodiversity as well as the associated wild-biodiversity. It is envisaged that honouring this traditional practice and its further enhancement by optimizing its crop mix would be worthwhile.