Home-gardens in Ethiopia: characteristics and plant diversity.
Zemede A., Ayele N.
Author Affiliation: National Herbarium, Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 3434 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Sinet, an Ethiopian Journal of Science 18 : 235-266
Abstract : A study was conducted on 111 home gardens located at 58 sites in central, eastern, western and southern Ethiopia. The study area covered urban, peri-urban and rural settings of dega (high land), weyna-dega (middle land) and kolla (low land) agroecological zones. Variations were observed in home garden frequency, position, size, shape, crop composition, planting pattern and level of development. The gardens studied could be grouped into backyards (48%), front-yards (26%), side-yards (13%) and enclosing yards (13%). Many homes located in peri-urban towns of the weyna-dega zone have gardens. The variations observed can best be accounted for by agroclimatic and sociocultural factors. A diverse range of species (162), of which 78% were food crops, was observed in home gardens. Typical garden crops (52%), conventional field crops (22%) and those cultivated in both setups (27%) were recorded during the survey. The garden crops included perennials (such as Coffea arabica, Catha edulis, Musa paradisiaca, Citrus spp., Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava) and annuals (vegetables and herbs). On the whole, maize (Zea mays) and enset (Ensete ventricosum) were the most frequent crops in home gardens. Fruit and vegetable crops constituted 41% of the species recorded, while other economically useful species occurred in gardens that produced cash and staple crops. Tables are given listing the different crops found, by type: cereals and pulses; root and tuber crops; fruit crops; vegetables; spices, herbs and shrubs; oil and nut crops, sugar crops; spices; non-food oil crops; fragrant plants; stimulants/narcotics; craft and implement plants (fibre crops and bamboos); medicinal plants; and other useful plants. A multistoreyed woody perennial complex integrating fruit trees and lower plants characterized environments where home gardening is widely practised, as in the enset growing parts of the country. Many multipurpose tree and shrub species were used as live fences - a table is given showing species commonly used in the 3 agroecological zones. Rural farming families frequently use both home gardens and fields to produce most of their crops. The home garden complex is viewed as reminiscent of traditional agroforestry systems. It is a place where evolution and diversification of many crops of indigenous taxa have occurred. Also, crops introduced in the primal stage of agricultural innovations and species planted at experimental levels are found in home gardens. It is concluded that the potential of home gardening in Ethiopia is quite significant.