Socio-economic importance, structure and indigenous management of woody perennials in the homegardens of Mpigi District, Uganda

Homegardens are a rorm of agroforestry in which multipurpose woody perennials are grown together with agricultural crops and ljvestock is kept on the compounds of individual homes. A study was carried out in Nangabo and Kira sub· counties ofMpigi district to assess the species composition, diversity, structure, socio-economic importance and indigenous management of woody perennials grown in the homegardens. Data were collected from 150 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire and on-farm survey. It was found that more than 70% of the farmers planted or spar-ed woody perennials in their homegardens and depended on them for nutrition and income. Farmers who practiced homegarden agroforestry owned land under the mailo or free hold land tenure system and the size of land holding varied from 0.1 to 4.2 ha per individual. Eighty three species of woody perennials were recorded in the bomegardens a nd these were mainly trees and . shrubs grown for provision of fruits, timber, building poles, craft materials, fibres, medicines, firewood, fodder and shade. The plants were grown for both subs istence and cash. The indigenous management practices of the homegardens included use or wood ash to control agricultural crop and tree pests, pruning and pollarding of trees and shrubs to stimulate flowering, increase fruit yield and reduce the effect of shading on the agricultural crops, and improvement of soil fertility by incorporating animal waste and crop residues into the soil.Key words: homegardens, woody perennials, structure, indigenous managemen