Traditional Homestead Farming Systems and Their Variants in Andaman and Nicobar, India: An analysis of Structure and Economics

Abstract

The study was conducted in 98 home gardens distributed over Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, India to identify homesteadfarming types, and evaluate their floristic composition, diversity, phenology and economic structure. Cluster analysis identified 6 homestead-farming types: 1. arecanut-coconut- rice, 2.arecanut-coconut, 3. coconut-Gliricidia-vanilla, 4.coconut- Gliricidiablack pepper, 5.vegetables, and 6. coconut-tuber. Type 1 and 6 are traditional whereas type 5 is a treeless vegetable farming system. Type 2, 3 and 4 have maximum 53 to 66 % similarity with type 1, but minimum (35-45%) with type 5. Rice fields are historically associated with the traditional type 1 which is more subsistence in nature. However, basic purpose of variant 2, 3 and 4 are commercial. Floral composition of traditional homestead farming type 1 comprises plantation trees i.e. coconut and arecanut; fruit trees, agroforestry trees and ornamental plants. They are distributed vertically in 4 stories. Diversity and species richness 3.48 and 9.64, respectively were highest in the traditional type. High diversity together with different biological cycles in the traditional system offers an array of products round the year but provide low monetary income of Rs. 76090 to house. However, it ensures sustainability to the system. The variants increased income 52% to 2.65 times and output I input ratio 2.25 to 2.93 times but, it caused the diversity to decline 35 to 36 % compared to that in the traditional system. Treeless vegetable farming though labour intensive, provides 72% greater income compared to that of the traditional system, however, the system is not sustainable as it depends heavily on inputs.