430 Modern Agricultural Reforms
average, income of homestead garden ecosystems is six times that of farmland out-
put for the same area unit. Therefore, the potential productivity of homestead
garden ecosystems should not be overlooked (Yun, 1989). In summary, homestead
garden ecosystems have a number of merits:
1 The multitude of crop species and animals on homesteads helps to satisfy the
needs of farmers on subsistence economy.
2 The mixed feature of home gardens leads to substantial improvements in the
physical and biological characteristics of the soil and environment.
3 The immediacy of human involvement and the full utilization of human waste
can reduce pollution of the environment.
4 The convenient location of home gardens provides the possibility to effectively
utilize family labour. Much work can be accomplished during time free of field
work. The old men and women can also participate without wasting time
obtaining garden plots.
5 The ratio between input and output is higher than that of conventional work
in the field.
6 A special microclimate is created within homestead garden ecosystems.
Existing problems of homestead gardens
However, there are some constraints to homestead garden ecosystems. At present,
the following problems shouild be seriously considered:
- Some villages and small towns lack suitable development programmes for home-
stead gardens. Most villages have narrow streets, small lanes, polluted water,
barnyard manure in the street, threshing grounds and processing factories. - Private houses and courtyards lack satisfactory design criteria. Not all farmers
have the knowledge to organize the different components in a proper manner.
This leads to a reduction in yields of individual understorey crops. Many farm-
ers do not plant and breed suitable species, based on the space available and the
food chain.
Table 18.5 Analysis of nutrient balance in a garden subsystemItem Quantity/yr N P 2 O 5 K 20
Input
Biogas residue manure (dry weight) 150.00 2.43 2.96 2.33
Biogas liquid manure (fresh weight) 200.00 2.20 0.68 2.16
Total 4.63 3.64 4.49
Output
Vegetables (fresh weight) 375.00 1.80 1.01 1.95
Grapes (fresh weight) 250.00 1.50 0.75 1.80
Total 3.30 1.76 3.75