Improvement of livelihood , food and nutrition security through homestead vegetables production and fruit tree management in Bangladesh

Sustainable, safe and nutritious food productions are the major challenges for global food security which meets dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. The objectives of the study were to utilize homestead resources in scientific method for producing fresh vegetables and fruits over space and time and to meet up the food and nutritional security of the farmers. Household survey was carried out to ascertain livelihoods information of the selected farm households before intervention. The trial was conducted at six replications by the participatory approaches following vegetables production “Golapgonj Model”. Results revealed that a family consisting five members having small homestead area with some fruit trees could be capable of harnessing sufficient and diversified vegetables and fruit round the year by utilizing the all possible homestead nieces and management of fruit trees. Results also suggested that the farmers consumed lion share of their products that could meet up nutrition from various vegetables and fruits, some of them distributed a portion to relatives and neighbors and also sold a portion of them. The additional income generated by selling of surplus vegetables and fruits was generally utilized to purchase supplementary food items, in turn increase the diversification of the family’s diet. Interestingly, active participation of family members (especially women and children) in their homestead vegetable production activities was also ensured. Thus, all these might be lead to full utilization of both physical & other farm resource available in the farm & mobilize resources that increased food & nutritional security, income as well as improved their livelihoods as well.


Introduction
Bangladesh is a member of the least developed countries in the world with population of about 160 million (BBS, 2012).The highest proportion of food insecure people are among landless and non-farm households, which is half of the countries rural population.Shortage of food is a usual phenomenon of the country and she has to import food in almost every year at the cost of valuable foreign exchange.To feed the population it is an emergence to increase crop production.According to definition of World Food Summit (1996), food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life (FAO, 1996).Household food security is the application of this concept at the family level, with individuals within households as the focus of concern.
There are about 18-20 million families in Bangladesh, most of them live in rural areas having a homestead each (Khan et el., 2009).These homesteads are the most effective and common production units for supplying food, fuel, timber and other family needs and employing family labour.Hussain et. al. (1988) reported that only 13 percent homestead area is under vegetable cultivation in Bangladesh.Nutritional deficiency is a common phenomenon especially in rural areas of the country.Report indicated that 49.8 percent of Bangladesh's population lives below the national poverty line (UNDP, 2008).Indeed, the prevalence of malnutrition in rural Bangladesh is among the highest in the world (HKI, 2008).The rates of childhood malnutrition in rural Bangladesh are among the highest in the world, 55% of children below 5 years old are stunted and 18% have low weight-for-height.Chadha et al. (1994) reported that per capita vegetables consumption in Bangladesh is only 28g against the daily requirement of 200 g while Uddin et al. (2009) reported that the daily requirement of vegetables are about 220g but per capita consumption of vegetables in Bangladesh is only 50g.Now, the daily per capita vegetables consumption in the rural areas is 194 g which includes potato and leafy vegetables (Rahman and Islam, 2012).Rural consumption of leafy and non-leafy vegetables has remained more or less the same over the past two decades after increasing over the past 30 years.Although fruit consumption has declined in rural areas after more than doubling in the 1970s but the average national per capita consumption of fruit and vegetables altogether is only of 126 g.This is far below the minimum daily consumption of 400 g of vegetables and fruit recommended by FAO and the World Health Organization (FAO/ WHO, 2003).Global food demand is growing rapidly, and doubling food production and sustaining food production at this level, are major challenges for global food security (Tilman et al., 2002 and2011).Home gardens are an integral part of local food systems and the agricultural landscapes of developing countries all over the world have endured the test of time (Galhena et al. 2013).The global change due to climate induced disasters can also have devastating impacts on communities and disable food production systems (Iannotti et al., 2009).Several studies suggest that home gardens can be an option for food and nutritional security in disaster, conflict, and other post-crisis situations (Marsh, 1998;Galhena et al., 2012;Wanasundera et al., 2006).Therefore, more attention towards home gardening as a strategy to enhance household food security and nutrition is to be needed.
Many homestead areas from small to large farmers of Bangladesh remain fallow or unutilized, which is a common phenomenon.There is a chance to bring these homesteads under vegetable production round the year including growing and/or management of quick growing fruit trees in a scientific way.This ultimately will play a vital role of reducing poverty and malnutrition and also can provide household with food and nutritional security (ARR, 2011 and 12).The fresh vegetables and fruits produced in the homestead can contribute more by providing increased opportunities for economic empowerment, household food security, and access to nutrition round the year and conservation of the natural environment.Under these circumstances, the research work was undertaken with the objectives i) to utilize homestead resources in scientific way for producing fresh vegetables and fruits over space and time, ii) to meet up the food security and nutritional requirements of the farmer's family & their livelihood improvement and iii) to create employment particularly for women and children.

Materials and Methods
The year round vegetable production was carried out at farmers' homestead in Moulvibazar, Bangladesh during the year 2010-12.The experiment was conducted at six farmers' homesteads which were randomly selected among the farmers of Kodupur Integrated Crop Management club with the help of Department of Agricultural Extension, Moulvibazar.Before intervention, a household survey was carried out among the 50 farm households and detail information in respect of livelihoods of farmers maintained by the households was collected.All of the farmers had some fruit trees like jackfruits, litchi, mango, lemon etc.Some of them were used to produce vegetables partially with poor managements others were not involved in produce vegetables.All of them were not taken care of their fruit trees and were totally dependent on nature.The co-operative farmers (both male and female including their children) were given orientation on the programme activities prior to intervention.The trial was conducted with participatory approaches with farmers under the researchers' active supervision during the project period.The five years weather data are also described in Fig. 1.The study was designed by the "Golapgonj Model" developed (research conducted from 2002-09) by the scientist of On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Sylhet (Choudhury et al., 2011) and followed to full utilization of homestead under Agro-Ecological Zone-22.The production units of the homestead, crops and trees that were utilized and nourished in these homesteads in available spaces are presented in Table 1.Farmers were encouraged to use organic manure from their own sources in vegetables cultivation and management of fruit trees.Inorganic fertilizers viz.nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium etc. were applied in each crop and fruit trees at recommended rates (BARI, 2006).Irrigation and all other intercultural operations including plant protection measures were taken accordingly where necessary.Data on yield, consumption, distribution, and selling of different types of vegetables were collected by using pre-designed schedule and regular monitoring.The nutrient contribution from vegetables and fruits per capita per day was calculated by converting the total edible yield into standard units.Means, averages and percentages were used for interpretation of the data by using MS Excel software.

Vegetable production and cost and return analysis
The production of vegetables in the homestead is presented in Table 2.The mean yield of vegetables was higher at open sunny space (206 kg) followed by that under trellis (58 kg).Among the vegetables cropping pattern in four bed, radish-tomato-amaranth vegetable pattern (Bed-1) produced the highest yield (91kg) followed by French bean-red amaranth (51kg) (Bed-2).It was observed that more crops and production units were covered in rabi season than kharif.Analysis of benefit-cost ratio revealed that among the eight production units, the highest gross return (Tk.4315) and gross margin (Tk.2999) were recorded in open place of the homestead while the other production units altogether contributed the gross return (Tk.5752) and gross margin (Tk.3616).The benefit cost ratio (BCR) is also found the highest (3.28) in the vegetables cultivation at open space.However, the mean yield of vegetables harvested from the homestead was 423 kg and the gross return and gross margin were Tk.10067 and 6615, respectively and the BCR was 2.92 (Table 2).By growing their own vegetables, households were able to supplement their income by lessening the need to purchase food from the local market and used this extra income for other purposes.The findings of the present study are also conformed the finding of Islam et al. (2003), Khan et al. (2009) and Berning et al. (2008).Talukder et al. (2000) reported that the number of varieties and vegetable production was three times higher in the developed garden than traditional garden and child consumption was also 1.6 times higher.Alam (2011) documented that farmers obtained their main staple root crops from home gardens in Bangladesh.Resource-poor families often depended more on home gardens for their food staples and secondary staples than those endowed with a fair amount of assets and resources such as land and capital (Wiersum, 2006).

Fruits production and cost and return analysis
The result revealed that the total amount 218 kg of fruits were harvested from the farmers household in which gross return and gross margin were recorded Tk. 8635 and 6725, respectively.Therefore, the BCR of the fruits was recorded 4.52 (Table 3).Consumption of fruits and vegetables is vital for a diversified and nutritious diet for a family.Increasing dietary diversification is the most important factor in providing a wide range of micronutrients and this requires an adequate supply, access to and consumption of a variety of foods.Iannotti, et al. (2009) reported that homestead food production programs assisted and addressed vitamin A deficiency and improved the quality of diet by facilitating a year-round production of vegetables and fruits.

Farm Resource Utilization
During the pre-intervention period, most of the farms did not utilized resources in scientific way.In integrated farming system farmers are preserved the kitchen wastes, manures, crop residues, animal waste, poultry litter, cowdung etc. at their farm level scientifically.Farmers used these recourses properly for crop production, which ultimately helped to improve soil fertility and moisture conservation of the homestead production units, thereby, reducing environmental pollution in order to get sustainable agricultural production.Homestead garden benefits family nutrition, increase household income, provide a buffer to food insecurity during lean season (agriculture off-season), provide habitat protection and soil conservation (Marsh, 1996).Women are the main care-takers of the garden, which empowers them, ensures better utilization of the income from the garden for food, and increases family welfare.However, after intervention, full utilization of both physical & other farm resource available in the farm & resources were mobilized for food security, income generation and improvement of their livelihoods.All these benefits are important contributions towards poverty alleviation.

Farm Productivity
Farm productivity increased due to increase of yield per unit area as well as addition of new alternative enterprises, maximizes the farm productivity etc.Firstly, the crop yields increased due to adoption of recommended technologies & better use of farm resources.Secondly, addition of new enterprises added new commodities.

Disposal pattern of harvested vegetables and fruits
The utilization pattern of vegetables showed that the farmers not only consumed their products but also distributed a portion of the product to relatives and neighbors and a portion of them were sold for meeting family needs.Disposal pattern of vegetables revealed that farm family did intake more vegetables (298kg) than distribution (46kg) to neighbors and relatives and sale (79kg) (Table 4).It was observed that 70% of the harvested vegetables were consumed by the farmer's family followed by sale (19%) and the lowest amount (11%) of vegetables was distributed to relatives and neighbors (Fig. 2).The results are in conformed to the finding of Khan et al. (2009) who asserted that farmers consumed their harvested vegetables, sold some of them and also distributed to other to strengthen social relation.The findings also agreed with Islam et al. (2003).Similar results were also observed in case of harvested fruits.
Results found that farm family did intake 111.5kg (> 50%) of fruits that was almost two times and two and half times more than that of the fruits sold (27%) and distributed (22%), respectively (Table 5 and Fig. 3).Bloem et al. (2001) reported that vegetables and fruits production and consumption increased among the beneficiaries of the homestead food production programme in Bangladesh.

Income diversification
Result revealed that there was great scope and potential of increasing yields of short-term cash crops, like vegetables produced and marketed in the nearest urban areas.Kaspersma (2007) reported that the promotion of income generating activities could be successful to improve income diversification and food security.The income from those activities in the homestead could be used to have access to food and to improve their livelihood.(UN, 2000).Homestead production of fruits and vegetables provides the household with direct access to important nutrients that may not be readily available or within their economic reach.Studies suggest that this additional income is generally utilized to purchase supplementary food items, in turn increasing the diversification of the family's diet (Talukder, 2000).Bibliographic evidence suggests that home gardens contribute to income generation, improved livelihoods, and household economic welfare as well as promoting entrepreneurship and rural development (Eyzaguirre et al., 2010 andCalvet-Mir et al., 2012).

Nutrient contribution
Month wise nutrient contribution from the vegetables grown in different production units of homestead are presented in Fig. 4 and 5.The highest amount of vegetables (55kg) produced in the month of December followed by May (50kg) and January (45kg) and the lowest (25kg) was recorded in the month of October (Fig. 4).It might be due to more production of winter vegetables in rabi season.It is revealed that farmers intake less vegetables compared to harvest.Uddin et al. (2009) reported that the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) of vegetables is 220g per person per day and it was calculated by considering five members per family during the study.Considering percentage over RDA, the highest amount of vegetables (-12.02%) was consumed in the month of March followed by June (-12.12%),while the lowest amount of vegetables was consumed in October (-35.48%)compared to RDA required for month basis (Fig. 5).Results cleared that the production of vegetables were much more than RDA (month basis) required for 5 members of a family except in the month of October and September where the production of vegetables were 26.69% and 9.09%, respectively less than that of RDA required (month basis).It is also mentionable that 61.29% more vegetables were produced in the month December compared to total RDA required to the month followed by May (46.63%).Talukder et al. (2000) asserted that children in households with garden consumed vitamin A-rich foods, such as green leafy vegetables and yellow fruits, more frequently than did children in households without a garden or with a traditional garden.In Bangladesh, consumption of fruits was very low and highly seasonal, and oil consumption, a requirement for adequate absorption of the beta-carotene, was also well below the recommended intake level.On the other hand, family consisting five members, the total RDA for 365 days required was 164.25kg but the people took only 111.50kg of edible fruits (51%) out of 218 kg total mean yield of harvested fruits in the homestead.The RDA 85-90g fruits per person per day were taken under consideration as per Bari et el. (2005).Farmers took less fruits (-32.12%) for the whole year compared to RDA although the production of fruits due to management increased by 32.72% over RDA (Table 6).Melina (2012) suggested that "a menu filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables could provide a big nutritional boost," and vegetables were packed with fiber and water, and were low in fat, they decreased the calorie density of diet, while boosting overall nutrition.It was evident from the literature that home gardens are a part of agriculture and food production systems in many developing countries and are widely used as a remedy to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the face of a global food crisis (Johnson et al. 2000).Mitchell and Hanstad (2004) reported that home garden provided multiple social benefits such as enhancing food and nutritional security, empowering women, promoting social justice and equity, and preserving indigenous knowledge and culture etc.

Impacts
The general impact was observed after intervention of technologies through holistic approach in integrated farming in the farmers homestead.The overall goal was to raise the farm productivity while relying on the existing resources and facilities available to farmer at the farm level.Timely sowing of recommended seed, application of fertilizer, plant protection measures and other intercultural operations in an integrated approach helped to boost up production of diversified vegetables and fruits.The same technology was rapidly disseminated to many farmers around the programme.The holistic farm approach directly and indirectly changed food habit, nutritional status, generated more income, health care, clothing and sanitation, saving pattern and borrowing of the participatory farmers.Thus, this ultimately improved the livelihood of farmer's family, food and nutrition security.

Conclusion
The results of the study highlighted the importance of utilization of homestead by year round vegetable production and management of quick growing fruit tress in Bangladesh for small to medium farm holders.
The farmers harvested diversified vegetables from different production units of their gardens and afterwards had sown new one in the empty beds.They got vegetables round the year, could meet their family needs, as well as distributed a portion of vegetables to relatives and neighbours, and also sold some surplus products to local markets.The activities in the homestead vegetable production and management of fruit trees provided a good source of nutrients for good health living and offered special opportunities for women and children to get involved in crop production.The "Golapgonj model" for homestead vegetable production was developed on the traditional practices, local conditions and cultural context and intervention of this could be a sustainable means to improve micronutrient intakes of high-risk groups and could improve household food & nutrition security.Homestead vegetable production and management of fruit trees programmes can be implemented successfully and cost-effectively on a national-scale using a collaborative model that fits local conditions.The findings of the study would definitely help the scientists, extension personnel, policy makers etc. to formulate livelihood improvement, food and nutrition security related sustainable agricultural programme at farm level.

Fig. 3 .
Fig. 3. Disposal pattern of fruits by the farm household Fig. 4. Month wise vegetable production and intake against RDA by farm household