Homegardens: Drops to sustainability

Abstract

Homegardening is an ancient and widespread practice of deliberate mixing of field crops, herbs and shrubs with trees and livestock within the compound of a house, popular in regions with either high or low human population densities in developing and developed countries. They reflect the wisdom of traditional culture and ecological knowledge that have evolved over the years. The gardens resemble the structure of natural ecosystems, i.e. they create a forest-like multi-storey canopy structure on a land marginal to field production and labour marginal to major household economic activities. Multiple environmental and ecological benefits are realized from homegardens in terms of ecologically friendly approaches for food production improving food security and enhancing economic growth along with biodiversity and natural resources conservation. As homegardens are time-tested local strategies that are widely adopted and practiced in various circumstances by local communities with limited resources and institutional support, they can be a part of agriculture and food production systems in many developing countries and are widely used as a remedy to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the face of a food crisis particularly in a climate change world.