CONTRIBUTION OF HOME GARDENS TO IN SITU CONSERVATION OF PLANT

GENETIC RESOURCES IN FARMING SYSTEMS

Institute for Fundamental Research on Tropical Agriculture (INIFAT)

Results of the Cuban Component of the IPGRI’s Home Garden Projects (1999 – 2001), wich involve 4

more countries all over the world (Ghana, Guatemala, Venezuela and Vietnam).

Funding provided by :

• The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)

• The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development/German Technical Cooperation (BMZ/GTZ)

• German Foundation for International Development (DSE)

Selection of the study areasBasis for the analysis and later selection of the study areas:

•Programme of INIFAT’s collection expeditions (1982 to 1994)

•Investigative projects conducted in Cuba (1995 to 1998) with the support and collaboration of:

IPGRI and IPGRI + NGO CROCEVIA

Cuban pre-mountainous and mountainous zones: More diversity

Plains: Less diversity (often used for sugar cane extensive-production or livestock-rearing)

Characteristics of the areas chosen.

Area/characteristic West Centre East

Massif Cordillera Guaniguanico Guamuhaya Sagua - Baracoa

ClimateAnnual rainfallAnnual temperature

2000 - 2013 mm23 - 24 °C

1200 – 1500 mm 19 - 26°C

1200 – 2448 mm16 – 23 oC

Soils 3 types 5 types 3 types

Related institutions Reserve of the Biosphere “Sierra del Rosario”

Cienfuegos Botanical Garden

“Alexander von Humboldt” National Park

Economic activities Ecological tourismCoffee production

Plantains + bananas commercializationCoffee production

Sustainable production of wood (Pinus forest)Coffee production

Selected Areas

Selection of the family gardens• 107 home gardens were

visited and explored• Shared interviews were

conducted, with at least one family (principally the owner)

• 39 were chosen for continued study, which represent 36.4% of the gardens visited:

• 13 in the western region, 12 in the central region and 14 in the eastern region

The most important selection criteria used were:

• The number of cultivated species (fruit trees, viands, vegetables, medicinal plants, etc.,) with more than 30 species preferred.

• The presence of local/traditional varieties, and the greater the quantity the better.

• Principal source of seed acquisition, with preference for those that reproduce their own seed.

• Size and composition of the family, with preference given to marriages with children, looking for likelihood of succession for the garden.

• The use of the garden’s produce, with preference given to home consumption.

• The length of time since the establishment of the garden, preferably more than 20 years.

• No current land disputes in progress.

Diversity of the plants in the home gardens selectedResult of the inventory of species present in the gardens selected.

Conservation area West Centre East TotalSpecies 320 315 258 508Genera 235 237 204 352Families 91 90 82 108

80% correspond to cultivated species The remainder are wild species used for different purposes.

Species Present in 100% HG Present in more than 80% HGWest Centre East West Centre East

Allium chinense xAnnona muricata xAnnona reticulata x x xArtocarpus communis xCitrus aurantium x xCitrus sinensis x xCocos nucifera xCoffea arabica x x x xCucurbita moschata xDioscorea alata xEryngium foetidum xGliricidia sepium xIpomea batatas xLippia alba xMangifera indica x x xManihot esculenta x xMelicoccus bijugatus xMusa spp. x x x x x xPersea americana x xPhaseolus vulgaris x x x xPlectranthus amboinicus xPouteria sapota xPsidium guajava x x x xSaccharum officinarum x xXanthosoma sagittifolium x

Zea mays x

Species observed in all or the majority of the home gardens (HG) studied.

20.4

4.45 5.26

24.29

0

5

10

15

20

25

%

West-Centre West-East Centre-East West-Centre-East

Percentage of the species common to the areas studied.

Crops reported as having greater infraspecific variability, according to the perception and criteria of the farmer.

Crop West Centre EastCajanus cajan xCapsicum annuum xCitrus sinensis x xCoffea arabica x x xColocasia esculenta x xCucurbita moschata xDioscorea alata xHibiscus rosa-sinensis x xIpomea batatas xLycopersicon esculentum xMangifera indica x xManihot esculenta xMusa spp. x x xPersea americana x xPhaseolus lunatus x xPhaseolus vulgaris x xPortulaca grandiflora x xPsidium guajava x x xSaccharum officinarum x xSpondias purpurea xVigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata xXanthsoma sagittifolium x xZea mays x x x

These results suggest that the diversity utilized by the families in the home gardens is distributed no uniformly

to all the regions selected, which could be one more aspect to bear in mind, when analyzing these areas as minimum units of in situ conservation of plant genetic resources in

Cuba.

The farmers’ perception of the diversity

Is based upon:

•The morphology of the different parts of the plant, in particular those which are utilized•Possible origins•Vigour of the plants•Morphological comparison with other species•Length of the crop cycle•Quality of the part of the plant utilized

Example of the infraspecific variability of some species according to the perception of the farmer.

Area % of HG with infraspecific diversity

Average number of varieties/ HG

Number of different types

Musa spp.West 92 1.8 22Centre 92 0.6 12East 93 1.5 15

Mangifera indicaWest 69 2.4 9Centre 58 3.5 20East 29 0.6 5

Phaseolus vulgarisWest 62 1.8 7Centre 25 0.6 5East 50 1.5 13

Sacharum officinarumWest 77 2.4 8Centre 8 0.6 7East 50 1.6 12

The coexistence of traditional and modern cultivars in the home gardens assures to a certain extent their in situ protection, and

suggest the potential of the home gardens to conserve specific threatened diversity.

Utilization of the plants in the home garden

Manage of the diversity through its use:

The selection is according to the requirements of the family (species level - within the species):The number of individuals per species/ variety/ population is small.

These are activities carried out with minimal ecological cost, due to the low utilization of chemical products.

Results of the inventory of species/primary use.Use/Conservation unit West Centre East TotalOrnamental 138 127 87 197Medicinal 64 65 56 114Timber for house construction 24 22 30 54Fruit trees 32 33 21 38Seasonings 17 13 17 25Others (charcoal, wood, insecticide, fences, flowers for bees, etc.) 9 10 4 20Vegetables 9 12 7 14Living fences 9 8 8 12Timber for making work tools 1 4 8 11Roots and tubers 8 8 6 10Drinks 4 5 5 10Grains 7 6 8 9Animal feed 3 3 4 7

Species for studies of infraspecific diversity

Pouteria sapota:Ex situ conservation in Cuba is extremely limited.The species is conserved in situ in the home gardens or nearby, with trees of great age.No previous work exists on the variability of this species in the country

Phaseolus lunatus:Solely grown in the home gardens, used for home consumption.Ex situ conservation in Cuba has been lacking.In Cuba widespread diversity has been observed which includes the three cultivars groups reported for the species, and types with wild characteristics collected as weeds.

Capsicum spp.:The presence in Cuba of the Capsicum annuum-chinense-frutescens Complex, with cultivated and wild types, and intermediates between these forms.An ex situ collection exists in Cuba, which is correctly maintained and documented.These species are conserved in the home gardens for various purposes (seasonings, picklings, etc).

The morphological diversity of the species selected

Pouteria sapota

Phaseolus lunatus

Capsicum spp.

Distribution of cultivars of Pouteria sapota related to components 1 and 3.-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 68

3

29

9

28

2

201 7

1 0

241 127

14

23

25

40

1 35

1 5

38

42 1 2

34,41

21

39

36 3532

7

1 6

1 9

6 2631

1 837

221 4

33

C3

C1

FRLEFRWISELEFRWE

THPENOSE

East

West

42 trees: 30 trees in the west - 12 trees in the east Characterization was based upon 11 characters of the fruit and seeds

Pouteria sapota

There is only an ex situ private collection, which is severely threatened by genetic erosion.

This collection could be rescue by introducing the materials into home gardens of farmers involved in the project, for:

• variability conservation.• further source of income for the family.

Cuba not being included in the Centre of Diversity for the speciesbut variability exists should not be ignored

Pouteria sapota

b. Percentage represented by the cultivar groups of Phaseolus lunatus in the home gardens selected.

79.25%

1.89%7.55%11.32%

Sieva Potato Lima Wild

6

1 1 0

18

3 2 1

18

2 1 00

5

10

15

20

Pinar del Río Cienfuegos Guantánamo

c. Number of accessions of Phaseolus lunatusaccording to the region and the cultivar group to which they belong.

Sieva Potato Lima Wild

The greatest variability was observed in the central and easternregions of the country, where the traditional knowledge of the crop is much greater than in the western region.

It was not possible to recognize a defined pattern of variability to differentiate between the regions of study.

Phaseolus lunatus: 53 populations from the western, central and eastern regions. 11 morphological characteristics of the seed.

Unfortunately, due to the loss of the ex situ collection, it is not possible to use the collections to complement one another, in the conservation of Phaseolus lunatus in Cuba. However a large part of the variability lost could be rescued, by also conserving ex situ the accessions maintained by the farmers in the home gardens.

Results of the Principal Component Analysis of the accessions of Phaseolus lunatus characterised in in situ and ex situ conditions.

-8.00

-6.00

-4.00

-2.00

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

-8.00 -6.00 -4.00 -2.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 1 0.00

C1

in situ

ex situ

GG/ A

LA

C v- g r Lima

C v - g r P o t a t o

Wild

C v - g r S ie va

Phaseolus lunatus

Capsicum spp.85 populations 25 descriptors of the plant, the flower and the fruit

Interesting types:•Wild population of the type ‘dove’s heart' was rediscovered, which had not been seen since the 19th century in Cuba. •That a wild population of the type ‘piquín’, previously undetected in Cuba, has been described.

0

5

10

15

20

25

W W W I I C C I C I C C C W

Total number of accession evalueted

C. frutescens C. chinense C. annuum

The results of PCA suggests that ex situ and in situ collections should be used as complementary conservation strategies of the gene pool of this crop in Cuba.

Simple Factorial Correspondence Analysis for the in situ and ex situ colections of

Capsicum spp.

- 8

- 6

- 4

- 2

0

2

4

6

8

- 1 0 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 0 2 4 6 8

ex s itu

in s ituC . f r u t e s c e n s C . f r u t e s c e n s

C c h in e n s e c u lt iv a t e d a n d

C . a n n u u m c u lt iv a t e d a n d

C a n n u u m

W ild u n id e n t if ie d

Capsicum spp.

Market for key species

Pouteria sapotaThe species abounds in the markets between May and July, although it can be found throughout the year. The production period of Pouteria in Cuba complement that from Central American region (Guatemala).

Phaseolus lunatusThe species is not commercialized in Cuba; outside the environs of the home garden it is difficult to find, even in the local markets.

Capsicum spp.The species C. chinense and C. frutescens are rarely found in the markets particularly the latter (used in Cuba medicinally, for seasoning or for pickling). C. annuum is often seen

Aspects related with agrobiodiversity managment. Sustainability of the home

garden

The children of farmers were able to study subjects

unrelated to agricultural activities, although a percentage still came to work in the agricultural sector.

Certain halting and reversion of this process has been seen, favoured by the adoption of specific agrarian State policies of land distribution, and the stimulus represented by better prices for agricultural produce in the markets.

The Cuban farmer easily accommodates new technologies, new species or new varieties, which in itself proves of interest, and could also be related to a higher level of education, or to more available information.

The proportion of species used only for home consumption is high.

The best environmental health (soil fertility and management, adequate and dynamic management of the different species within the system, attention to the garden, possible nearby sources of pollution, etc.) is shown in the home gardens located in the protected areas or in the buffer zone (western and eastern areas).

The income from the produce of the gardens indicates a reasonable profit for the families, in terms of the current earning power of the country, but little is reinvested in the management of the garden as such.

The management of the agricultural tasks has little adverse impact on the environment, since in a high proportion harvesting, seed bed preparation and weed control are all carried out manually. The majority of the species are managed without irrigation and most either use organic fertilizer, or not use it at all.

For economical species the application of chemical fertilizers can damage the environment. In this aspect substantial improvement could be achieved with intensive and systematic training.

Aspects which suggest the sustainability of the home garden:

The management of a wide diversity of wild and cultivated species, with different purposes of use.

Management of a considerable infraspecific diversity, with traditional varieties and practices, taking into account landscape, soil and seed production.

Home garden contributes substantially to the subsistence of the home, including domestical animals.

When the location is fairly inaccessible, the family depends almost entirely on the produce from the garden.

Normally a much greater number of people benefit from the produce of the garden than merely those who live there.

The experience of the workshops with the farmers in the regions studied

To favour these meetings, and to allow the exchange of conservation practices and methods, in addition to the exchange of seeds of different species and varieties.

In each region awareness has been raised about conserving the diversity of cultivated species, with the scientific, political and educational authorities.

Conservation of the diversity has been encouraged by means of stimuli aimed at increasing the farmers’ understanding of the role of the home garden in the food security of the family, the community and the region.

Proposal of Minimum Effective Units of in situ Conservation in

Home Gardens

78.553.092.4Percentage of gardens selling directly to the State or the public(fruits, vegetables, root and tubers, etc.

241517Number of people who benefit from the products of the garden

93% Men7% Women

75% Men25% Women

85% Men15% Women

Sex of the owner

64% Half-breeds7% Negroes29% White

42% Half-breeds8% Negroes50% White

46% Half-breeds23% Negroes31% White

Ethnic of the owner

8,65,810Hours dedicated to the garden

viands-grainsviands-grains-fruits

viands-grains-fruits

Production systems of HG

EastCentreWestElements of description

Socio-economical and cultural characteristics

Description of the Cuban home garden

The Cuban home garden of the rural areas is characterized as being a dynamic agricultural ecosystem, where a high level of diversity can be seen in useful species, be they cultivated or wild.

The rural Cuban home garden occupies a relatively small space, and almost always surrounds the house, although in some cases, the area of the garden moves from one part of the land to another every so often (approximately every three years), in search of rejuvenated soil, and leaving the previous area fallow for the future.

The ornamental garden is almost always located in the anterior part and at one of the sides of the house (also some species of fruits, medicinal and seasoning plants).

Other species for feeding the family, are distributed a little far away from the house, in a system of continuous rotation, depending upon the size of the property.

The structure of the Cuban home garden varies depending upon thetopography, but always maintains all the strata of vegetation (subterranean, herbaceous, bushes, and trees), with cultivated species, weeds and wild species being characteristic of each strata.

Generally cassava, bananas, taro, beans and maize, are the important crops, which demonstrate attachment to a specific food culture, where the viands and the grains hold a central role in the family economy.

The fruits have an important role in providing vitamins and minerals, as a substitute for vegetables.

The presence of other species are seen to be influenced by historical factors; such is the case of coffee, which is also of economic importance for the State, and commercial coffee production is found in the mountainous zones.

Approximately 50% of the species and/or cultivars originate outside the home garden; the interviews confirm the ample exchange of materials between the garden and its surroundings.

Frequently they obtain plants from close family and neighbours, and to a lesser extent plants are acquired in the formal sector.

Home gardens in rural areas are a guarantee of the necessary products for material an spiritual support of the families.

We would like to recognise Cuban farmer communities, that have maintained and conserved a high percentage of theagrobiodiversity present in our days.

INIFAT wish to acknowledge IPGRI, BMZ/GTZ and DSE for technical and financial support.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH