Restructuring Homegardens through Technological and Managerial Interventions — An Attempt in Kerala

This paper has described the attempt made at the Farming Systems Research Station of Kerala Agricultural University on restructuring of the existing homegardens through technological and managerial interventions and enhance the profitability of the system. It has discussed the results of this attempt on restructuring 0.4 ha homestead farms in the coastal uplands of Kerala by providing sunlight infiltration, introducing new crops and subsidiary enterprises, adopting correct management practices and recycling organic wastes. The new system could generate a gross farm income of 309920 and a net farm income of 144710. The cropping intensity was 168 per cent and benefit-cost ratio was 1.91. It could also generate 110 person-days of gainful employment to the family members. An additional benefit from the project was that the subsidiary enterprises also provided gainful employment to the family members and attracted the educated unemployed youth to the field of agriculture. The study has suggested development of appropriate technology, small farm machinery easy access to credit and market linkages to make the system profitable and sustain the farmers’ interest in agriculture.