Evaluation of the Structure and Functions of Home Garden: A case study in Vavuniya District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Home gardens are represented as multi-purpose agroforestry system with ecological and economical sustainability. The objective of the study was to investigate the socioeconomic features of the study population and evaluation of the structure, species diversity and different methods of home garden. Primary data was collected from 30 randomly selected home gardens in urban areas of Vavuniya D.S Division through questionnaire survey and field observations. The collected data were analyzed using Minitab 17. The majority of the farmers were females (60 0%) and remaining were males. The respondents of the study population were 21 to 75 years of age and around 50% of younger farmers have been involving in home gardening activities. The size of the home garden ranged from 0.05 to 1.5ha. The diversity indices estimated for home gardens as Shannon index was 2.08 and Species evenness was 0.18. 70% of home gardens have more than 10 different plant species. Positive correlation was found between age of home garden owner —size of home garden and age of home garden owner — plant diversity (p<0.05). In the study area, the raised bed method, pot method and packets methods used by farmers as 47%, 10%, 27% respectively. The various types of home garden patterns observed, among these 43% of them had ornamental plants. This study recommends that creating community-based awareness programs among the households about the significance of well-developed home gardens for their consumption of daily basis high-nutrient food items for sustained life