Status of Home Gardens of Nepal: Findings of Baseline Survey
Conducted in Four Sites of Home Garden Project
Resham Gautam, Rojee Suwal and Pratap Shrestha
ABSTRACT
A baseline survey was carried out in four selected home garden sites (Durbardevisthan of
Gulmi, Dudhrakshya of Rupandehi, Gaurigunj of Jhapa and Panchkanya of Ilam) during
2003-2004 to establish bench mark information on farmers’ perceived value and existing
status (composition, structure, management practices, etc.) of home gardens. We randomly
sampled the households of six different strata in a proportionate basis and collected the
information. The study was focused on three aspects; factors affecting the home garden
species composition/diversity, management practices and the marketing system of home
garden produces/products. The result showed that the home garden occupies only a small
proportion (2-4%) of the total land possessed by a farmer. The size of these gardens varied
from 0.0017 ha to 0.5 ha, where the species diversity was high. We found that species
diversity was largely affected by ecological factors like climatic parameters, soil and abiotic
stresses, the correlation between them was significantly (p<0.05) high. Thus, species
composition of home gardens varies with respect to eco-zones. Species diversity was higher
in eastern parts than in western parts and in hills than in Terai (plain areas in southern parts
of country) regions of Nepal. Maximum species diversity (87) was reported in an individual
home garden of Ilam. Socio-economic factors like ethnic composition, food culture,
migration, commercialization and wealth status influenced species diversity to some extent
but not significantly (p>0.05). Home gardens without fencing were common. However, this is
practiced more in Terai regions than in hills. In all the sites, we found farmers primarily using
organic manure. The application of chemical fertilizers and insecticides/pesticides was
limited to a few selected species in a small amount only. Domestication of various wild plant
species was found in home garden that has contributed to increase species diversity and
supporting livelihoods. Home consumption was the principal purpose of home gardening and
on an average, 60% of the total family consumption of fruits and vegetable was from their
own home garden. Marketing of home garden products and surplus was not a very common
practice in surveyed sites except in Ilam.
Key words: Home garden, size and composition of homegarden, domestication, diversity,
uncultivated species
INTRODUCTION
Home gardens are an integral part of traditional farming systems. Multipurpose species are
cultivated to fulfil daily requirements of households in the home gardens and are managed
by family members (Shrestha et al. 2004). Thus, home gardens play a crucial role for the
livelihoods of the communities. Generally, annual and perennial crops are planted, and
livestock are raised together in a small space. These gardens have not only been important
sources of food, fodder, fuel, medicines, spices, construction materials and income but they
have also been an important means for the on-farm management of a wide range of plant
genetic resources (Gessler et al., 1996; Hodel et al., 1999). Home gardens are dynamic in
their evolution, composition and uses. Their structure composition, species and varietal
diversity have been influenced by the changes in socio-economic circumstances and cultural
values of the users. Furthermore, farmers often use home gardens as site of
experimentation, introduction and domestication of plants that farmers like (Engels, 2002;
Shrestha et al., 2002; Shrestha et al., 2004).