How does homegarden size affect input and output per unit area? a case study of the Bieha District, Southern Burkina Faso

How does homegarden size affect input and output per unit area? a case study of the Bieha District, Southern Burkina Faso

2014

E10892

This research studied the effects of homegarden size on inputs and outputs per unit area. The size of the garden was assumed to be an essential factor of the amount of input and output. The smaller the garden, the more intensive management should be. In Burkina Faso, the Bieha department was purposively selected. The initial Rapid Rural Appraisal was complemented by a household survey. Tools of data collection included; observation, key informant interview, and focus group discussion. For the survey, eighty households were selected based on systematic sampling. Data was collected by individual interviews at household level, and for statistical calculations, the households were subsequently categorized as small, medium and commercial based on their homegarden size. It was found that all the surveyed households managed homegardens composed of trees, crops and animals. Majority of the farmers (43%) belonged to the small category due to land constraints. Generally, the inputs and outputs increased with increasing land sizes. However inputs per unit area and outputs per unit area were higher for small homegardens than bigger ones. Fertilizer application increased with increasing size. It can be concluded that the increase in homegarden sizes results in the need for higher external inputs.

4(3):196-208, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRISCIENCE

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