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Homestead Space Planning: a Way of Implementing Homestead Agroforestry in Shabge-sdc Project

M Sadequl Islam
CARE, Rajshahi

M Faruque Biswas
CARE, Rajshahi

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper briefly presents the homestead agroforestry activities of Strengthening Household Access to Bari Gardening Extension (SHABGE) project of CARE- Bangladesh. Project staffs provided training on homestead space use plan in September 2000 to the farmers with a view to introduce homestead agroforestry activities. Farmer Field School (FFS) member have selected 235 homesteads from 235 FFS with a view to implement the idea of homestead space plan as demonstration. The progress and effect were assessed through a simple questionnaire in April 2001. It was found that 85% participating farm families designed their homestead space plan defining present status and potentials. Seventy percent of selected farmers preferred yam and country bean as combination with timber trees. Sixty-two per cent farmers cultivated sweet gourd, ash gourd and ribbed gourd with different timber trees and on trellis. Most of the farmers chose mango-lemon/guava combination as tree- tree combination. It was found that the selected farmers had 5.01 (±1.5) decimal of land for year round vegetable production. Seven vegetables were cultivated in these plots. The farmers opined that after implementation of homestead space plan, 12.70 (±14.22) % space utilization increased for cultivation both vertically and horizontally which resulted 25.02 (±13.44) % more production than previous year.

Keywords: Agroforestry, Homestead, Farmers practice, Farmers choice

Location: 20 Upazila of western and Northwestern part of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farming System

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

To know the farmers practice/choice regarding homestead agroforestry.

Methodology:

SHABGE project is implementing horticulture and agroforestry activities in 20 Upazila of western and Northwestern part of Bangladesh. The project is funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and supervised by Intercooperetion. The project is providing support to 5440 farming household on horticulture and homestead agroforestry through 253 Farmer Field Schools (FFS). Ten thousand associate farmers are getting support from FFS farmers. The FFS are 3 years duration and need based practical session are being conducted fortnightly on horticulture, agroforestry and household livelihood security issues. Learning through experimenting and Integrated Pest Management is the major approach being followed in these FFS. From the beginning of the FFS, project has initiated different activities with a view to increase the knowledge and skill on agroforestry that will enhance the use of vertical and horizontal space of homestead in a sustainable manner. Analysis and visualizing the current status and prospects of rural homestead, planning for necessary modification of homestead space, tree pruning and sunlight pocket, tree-vegetable combination, tree and tree combination, tree management etc are the prime of these activities. One hundred and six field staff and supervisor of CARE and Partner NGOs received three months long foundation training where they learnt on some components of homestead agroforestry like' vegetable cultivation in homestead, tree crop combination, tree-tree combination, IPM etc. practically. Later on training modules were developed for implementing the homestead space plan in farmers household. With a view to implement the homestead space use plan properly, concept paper and modules on homestead agroforestry tree management, tree improvement, multi storied cropping, insect and disease management and implementation checklists were prepared. All field level staffs (106) participated in dummy session and found out the suitability, constraints etc. of homestead agroforestry and improved it. Finally staff have conducted fortnightly training session for the farmers. Staff and FFS member selected at least one household from each FFS for this purpose and total two hundred thirty five households were selected. The progress was measured through a simple questionnaire. Filled in questionnaires (10%) were cross checked by the senior staff of the project through field visit. The data were entered into computer using Microsoft Access and later on analyzed through SPSS. A few general information like number of household designed homestead space plan and its average implementation status was collected categorized in Upazila. Secondary information and previous activities were reviewed accordingly. With a view to assess the implementation status of homestead space planning and related issues, a study was conducted in May 2001.

The activities of homestead space planning were first commenced in September 2000. It observed that farmers mostly planted trees as follow up activities of this session as it was rainy season. It was found that farmers' family member and neighbor were not actively participated during homestead space planning. Based on this, a review session on homestead space plan and multi storied cropping were conducted considering previous shortfall and emphasizing shade tolerant crop cultivation in different season.

Source of Information: Proceedings of a national workshop on Development of Agroforestry Research in Bangladesh held september 16-17 2001, OFRD, BARI, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Farmers recommended introducing such varieties of crops/vegetables suitable for homestead and will repel livestock and poultry's. Farmers of Barind area suggested about the developing of a suitable year round vegetables cultivation pattern along with drought resistant varieties. Finally, detail analysis of tree-crop suitability is needed for the selection of appropriate species for homestead. The study showed that it is possible to make the existing homestead more productive through transferring knowledge to the farmers on homestead analysis, multistoried cropping and space planning. It observed that homestead space plan could be an effective self- monitoring tool for the rural farmers for implementing homestead agroforestry SHABGE project has completed only 1.5 years of its 1^St phase. Farmers are very much enthusiastic in participating different activities of the project, Hence, implementations of space use plan for homestead agroforestry should be strengthened.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings