Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology

A wide range of agrobiodiversity is present in home gardens spread over diverse landscapes across the globe. Home gardens with indigenous vegetables are still found today in many traditional agricultural landscapes across India. There are indications that the areas under home garden is decreasing due to the availability and growth of infrastructural facilities for commercial cultivation of crops in small crop holdings of traditional agricultural landscapes. This study was aimed at characterizing backyard farming of vegetables across diverse landscapes and backyard farming of okra in traditional agricultural landscapes of Adilabad District, Telangana, India. Preliminary database survey, preliminary baseline survey and systematic field survey were conducted in Adilabad District by National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Rajendranagar in collaboration with Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar during 2010-2012. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Preliminary baseline survey revealed that out of the four areas (urban, peri-urban, rural and tribal areas) surveyed for backyard farming of vegetables, domestic vegetable production was under traditional agricultural practices in tribal areas. Four species of Abelmoschus namely A. esculentus, A. ficulneus, A. tuberculatus and A. tetraphyllus were encountered in the study area. Of these, A. esculentus was the only cultivated crop species that was under production, utilization and/or trade by indigenous tribal communities in the study area. Farming systems of okra were predominantly domestic where most production was consumed at home directly as food and the surplus was sold in the traditional weekly local markets. Mostly, indigenous landraces of okra were commonly grown in the marginal, subsistence, rainfed, zero-input, mixed cropping systems in backyards following traditional farming methods. More or less natural agriculture was found in okra farming systems. Commercialization of okra produce based on traditional production system is likely to be more sustainable since few external inputs are needed to make the system function and economically viable. Tribal communities have to take up leadership through self-help groups and community-based institutions in undertaking activities following a strategy focusing on cultivation, consumption, conservation and commerce, all with the aim of fostering conservation and sustainable use of native cultivars of okra.