Home garden in Machipanda, Manica district, Mozambique

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to characterize and evaluate the home gardens in Machipanda, Manica Province (Mozambique). Interviews were conducted at 37 heads of households. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. To facilitate information understanding and analysis, they were grouped into a SWOT Matrix, so that its components: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in relation to the backyards studied, were highlighted. The backyards were mostly irregular, with an area ranging from 400-5,000 m2 with average of 770.27 m2. In the home gardens it was found that 90% practiced agrossilvipastoril system and 10% practiced agroforestry system. Twenty-four tree species belonging to 17 botanic families were identified. The most representative families were Rutaceae (4 species), Fabaceae (3 species) and Anacardiaceae, Moraceae and Myrtaceae (2 species each). The agrobiodiversity present in backyards contribute to food security and constitutes the main source of income for the farmer and his family. The SWOT analysis showed that the region is suitable for development and intensification of agro-forestry systems and that the practice of the backyards should be encouraged in the region under the precepts of socioeconomic and environmental sustainability.