Content uploaded by Bishal Dhungana
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Bishal Dhungana on Mar 25, 2024
Content may be subject to copyright.
A Proposal on:
Study of Agro-biodiversity Status of Home Gardens in Modi, Parbat, Nepal
Researcher:
Bishal Dhungana
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science
Paklihawa Campus, Parbat
Principal Investigator:
Sujan Kandel
Lecturer
Department of Agricultural Botany and Ecology, Paklihawa Campus
Research site:
Modi Rural Municipality, Parbat
Gandaki Province, Nepal
Collaborating institute: Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science
Duration of the Project:
Starting on: October 2023
Ending on: January 2024
Date of submission: January 15, 2024
Total budget: Rs.60,950/-
Table of Contents
2 Introduction..............................................................................................................................2
2.1 Background Information...................................................................................................3
2.2 Statement of Problem........................................................................................................3
2.3 Rationale of Study.............................................................................................................4
3 Objectives.................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Broad Objectives...............................................................................................................4
3.2 Specific Objectives...........................................................................................................4
4 Literature Review.....................................................................................................................4
5 Methodology............................................................................................................................6
5.1 Study Area.........................................................................................................................6
5.2 Research Design, Sample Design, and Data Collection...................................................6
5.3 Data Analysis....................................................................................................................7
6 Risk and Assumptions..............................................................................................................7
7 Expected Outputs.....................................................................................................................7
8 Estimated Budget.....................................................................................................................7
9 Beneficiaries.............................................................................................................................7
10 Calendar of Activities...........................................................................................................8
11 References.............................................................................................................................8
Figure 1: Modi Rural Municipality, Parbat......................................................................................6
Table 1: Budget Estimation..............................................................................................................7
Table 2: Calendar of Activities........................................................................................................8
1 Introduction
1.1 Background Information
Home gardens are firmly established forms of land utilization within the broader agricultural
frameworks in Nepal, being diligently maintained in close proximity to the household (Sunwar et
al., 2006). Home gardens are characterized by structural complexity performing various
functions that benefit the ecosystem and people. According to research conducted in different
countries, home gardens preserve high levels of inter- and intra-specific plant diversity,
especially in terms of traditional crop varieties and landraces. Any house with a home garden
either in the village or urban does not only refer to a dwelling place but has important agro-
biodiversity. It is an integrated entity through which solar energy is passed from plants to animals
and man, and matter is recycled and reused (Galluzzi et al., 2010). The very beginning of modern
agriculture started in small garden plots around the household. These gardens play an important
role in continuously providing food and income to the family. Since early studies of home
gardens in 1930s by the Dutch scholars Osche and Terra on mixed gardens in Java, Indonesia,
there have been extensive contributions to the functions, species inventories, socio-economic and
cultural relevance. Home-garden is a type of mixed cropping system that include vegetables,
fruits, flowers, medicinal plants, spices, livestock, fisheries etc. as an alternative source of
income and food (Galhena et al., 2013). 72 % of houses were occupied with vegetables in the
home garden in Nepal consisting of an area ranging from 2-11% of the total land use system.
Due to the rough land structure on hill, home garden is suitable in the Hill region of Nepal.
Plants have multiple benefits like nutritional value, medicinal value, ornamental crops, fodder
crops, multi-purpose trees for fuelwood, timber, etc. Seeds of home gardens are produced by
home gardeners themselves (Adhikari, 2020). Research on home-garden is important to know the
farmer's home-garden cultural practiced (Gautam et al., 2009). There are various crops,
livestock, and fish which aren’t being researched, released, registered, and also rejected by
policymakers, and researchers in Nepal (Joshi et al., 2020).
1.2 Statement of Problem
Many neglected and underutilized species ignored by researcher are also appreciated by local
populations (Pudasaini et al., 2013). In Modi municipality, such research program has not
conducted. Home garden is neglected hotspot of agrobiodiversity (Galluzzi et al., 2010).
Generally, small landholder farmers plant the tree species which are easily available or freely
distributed by different organizations without the certainty of quality seeds and seedlings which
decrease production (Ulak et al., 2021). People of this area are also unaware about economic
importance of home garden.
1.3 Rationale of Study
If this project is carried out, following changes are will occur:
Exploration, documentation, extraction of underutilized crops, livestock, crops etc.
It helps to provide incentives for the conservation of biological resources and
biodiversity.
Generates income and improve the living standard of local people.
Improves the quality of environment through soil recycling.
2 Objectives
2.1 Broad Objectives
To identify, document, and promote underutilized, endangered crops, livestock, and fish
for food security in Modi, Parbat.
2.2 Specific Objectives
To identify available plants, livestock, forage, trees.
To commercialized products of home garden.
To promote mixed intercropping system in small piece of land.
To aware people about importance of home garden.
3 Literature Review
Home gardens are realized as an important self-sustaining agro ecosystem with the dual function
of production and on farm conservation of agro biodiversity. The threat in genetic erosion to
plant resources for which are useful for food and other agriculture benefits could be arrested by
ensuring the worth and benefits of home gardens because they ensure conservation of useful
plants through continuous use (Semu, 2018). Several factors can explain why home gardens are
more biologically diverse than agricultural fields. First, the choice of species to grow in home
gardens is based on what is valued culturally, the local agro ecology, ethnic food culture, market
accessibility and HH(Households) needs and preferences. This includes food, fodder, ornamental
and medicinal plants from the wild, which are moved into and maintained in a home garden.
Second, they function as a means to convenient provision of quality food all year round at a
minimum cost for the family. Third, home gardens within and across agroecosystems provide a
wide network of sources for the goods and services that home gardens provide, such as food,
fodder, medicines, dyes, fuels and timber, and ecosystem services, such as habitats for
pollinators, nutrient recycling and carbon sequestration, which provide indirect use and aesthetic
values. Home garden management practices not only use the available biodiversity within large
ecosystems ,bridging natural and cultivated landscapes, they also shape the genetic diversity of
traditional crops and varieties in situ through the process of natural and human selection (Gautam
et al., 2009). Women mostly manage home gardens, they can also play an important role in
ensuring proper diets of women and children, especially in rural areas. Hence, the real value of
home gardens is in ensuring proper health of women and children primarily, who can then have
more fulfilling lives to contribute as productive citizens. In addition to the family’s food needs,
home gardens also augment household income, especially for women, from the sale of surplus
produce. Even with small cash incomes, women in villages can exercise greater economic
agency in controlling small family expense. Women also tend to spend money differently than
men by giving priority to food, healthcare and education to children (Pudasaini et al.,
2013).Agroforestry practice in Nepal suffer from scarcity of quality planting materials and
improved seed varieties and also lack of simple to complex machineries and proper treatment
practices of disease in tree species. In western Hill, most of the farmers bought seedlings of fast-
growing timber species such as Eucalyptus and Tectona from a border side Indian vendor with no
assurance of quality (Ulak et al., 2021).
4 Methodology
4.1 Study Area
Figure 1: Modi Rural Municipality, Parbat
4.2 Research Design, Sample Design, and Data Collection
Samples will be taken representing 10% of the total population of Modi. Simple random
sampling methods will be used as sampling techniques. Questionnaire will be prepared using
mWaterPortal Software and manually in printed documents according to the feasibility of the
enumerators.
4.3 Data Analysis
After completion of data collection, all the data will entered in Microsoft excel, and then to
analyze the data and interpret result, IBM SPSS software will be used.
5 Risk and Assumptions
Householders will co-operate well.
Budget will be efficient and available in time.
Climatic condition will be favorable.
Time will also be in our favor.
6 Expected Outputs
After completion of project following output are expected to achieve:
Various underutilized and endangered species protected and explored.
Economy of people increased.
Commercialization of home garden started.
Food insecurity solved.
Quality and improved seed/planting materials distributed.
7 Estimated Budget
Table 1: Budget Estimation
S.N. Particulars Quantity Rate Total
1. Enumerators daily allowance Male:5, Female:5 800 8,000
2. Stationery/Print/Photocopy 8,000
3. Lodging and fooding 10,000
4. Transportation 6,000
5. Report preparation 6,000
6. Miscellaneous 15,000
7. Total 15,000
8. Overhead (10%) 5,300
9. Contingency (5%) 2.650
10. Grand Total 60,950
8 Beneficiaries
Primary beneficiaries: Local people including me.
Secondary beneficiaries: Municipality, NGO, INGO
9 Calendar of Activities
Table 2: Calendar of Activities
MONTHS-ACTIVITIES Oct Nov Dec Jan
Desk study and Literature review
Site selection
Questionnaire preparation and pre-testing
Focus group discussion
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Report preparation
10 References
Adhikari, J. (2020). Home Garden, Along With Its Functional Category and Key Species
Reported in Nepal: a Review. Reviews in Food and Agriculture, 2(1), 16–19.
https://doi.org/10.26480/rfna.01.2021.16.19
Galhena, D. H., Freed, R., & Maredia, K. M. (2013). Promising Aproach. BioMed Central, 1–13.
Galluzzi, G., Eyzaguirre, P., & Negri, V. (2010). Home gardens: Neglected hotspots of agro-
biodiversity and cultural diversity. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19(13), 3635–3654.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9919-5
Gautam, R., Sthapit, B., Subedi, A., Poudel, D., Shrestha, P., & Eyzaguirre, P. (2009). Home
gardens management of key species in Nepal: A way to maximize the use of useful diversity
for the well-being of poor farmers. Plant Genetic Resources: Characterisation and
Utilisation, 7(2), 142–153. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262108110930
Joshi, B. K., Shrestha, R., Gauchan, D., & Shrestha, A. (2020). Neglected, underutilized, and
future smart crop species in Nepal. Journal of Crop Improvement, 34(3), 291–313.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2019.1703230
Pudasaini, R., Sthapit, S., Suwal, R., & Sthapit, B. (2013). The role of integrated home gardens
and local, neglected and underutilized plant species in food security in Nepal and meeting
the Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG). Diversifying Food and Diets: Using
Agricultural Biodiversity to Improve Nutrition and Health, 242–256.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203127261
Semu, A. A. (2018). The Study of Homegarden Agrobiodiversity , Practices of Homegardening
and Its Role for In-Situ Conservation of Plant Biodiversity in Eastern Hararghe ,
Kombolcha Town Oromia Regional State Ethiopia. 229–246.
https://doi.org/10.4236/ojf.2018.82016
Ulak, S., Lama, B., Pradhan, D. K., & Bhattarai, S. (2021). Exploring agroforestry systems and
practices in the Hill and hill regions of Nepal. Banko Janakari, 31(2), 3–12.
https://doi.org/10.3126/BANKO.V31I2.41885