Los huertos familiares como unidades productivas de autoconsumo, de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional y de preservación de la agrobiodiversidad, San Luis, Monteverde, Costa Rica
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Arias Ramírez, Jessica María
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Abstract
El huerto familiar es la unidad productiva de análisis del presente estudio. Estos, son espacios productivos ubicados usualmente alrededor del hogar y tienen un tipo de producción a baja escala y de autoconsumo, se emplean en la producción de cultivos y la cría de animales menores. En el caso de Costa Rica, existe muy poca investigación realizada en huertos familiares.
Por lo tanto, esta investigación analiza la multifuncionalidad del huerto mediante elementos como; la agrobiodiversidad presente en el huerto y la influencia del entorno socioambiental en la misma, el conocimiento ecológico tradicional relacionado con el manejo y uso de las especies, así como la contribución de la agrobiodiversidad a la Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional (SAN) de los hogares. Lo anterior debido a que se conoce que los huertos familiares biodiversos tienen una importancia significativa para la SAN familiar, ya que aumentan el acceso a alimentos de calidad y proveen diversidad de alimentos.
El diseño metodológico general de la investigación consistió en un muestreo propositivo. Se seleccionaron un total de 23 huertos familiares para el estudio en San Luis, Monteverde, Costa Rica. El tamaño de los huertos familiares fue de 909±480 m2 (Promedio ± DE). Se emplearon técnicas de investigación como el enfoque de visitas múltiples, entrevistas, encuestas y observación directa. Se analizaron los factores que afectan la riqueza de especies con uso (excluyendo ornamentales) en los huertos.
Se encontró que la edad de la persona encargada del huerto es de 53±15 años (mayoría mujeres 86,9%), la edad del huerto 20±16 años y la cantidad de horas semanales dedicadas al mantenimiento 9±8, tuvieron una correlación positiva con la riqueza de especies, es decir a más edad de la persona, más años del huerto y más horas trabajadas, mayor diversidad de especies. Los resultados indicaron una alta diversidad de especies en los huertos, se identificaron un total de 182 especies con usos varios para el hogar (13 animales y 169 plantas), de 65 familias taxonómicas. Se registró un máximo de 78 especies en un huerto, mientras que el mínimo fue de 12. Las familias de plantas con más especies fueron: Fabaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Lamiaceae y Myrtacea. El número de especies es un elemento importante que refleja la versatilidad y multifuncionalidad del huerto familiar, el aporte a la SAN y la conservación de la agrobiodiversidad. Se identificó que en San Luis el 100% de los casos estudiados indicaron el autoconsumo como principal propósito del huerto, seguido por el trueque (25%) o venta (17%).
No obstante, se encontró que existe muy poca participación de personas jóvenes en la gestión del huerto, solo seis en todo el estudio, y muy pocos niños en los hogares (el promedio es menos de un niño por hogar) y las familias son pequeñas, conformadas por un promedio de tres personas. Ante esta realidad la integración generacional en la sucesión agrícola podría ser un desafío, y el conocimiento tradicional adquirido por las generaciones podría perderse en unas décadas más.
Así mismo, en el pasado San Luis ha presentado altos índices de Inseguridad Alimentaria (INSAN), misma que se evaluó usando una escala de percepción de acceso a los alimentos adaptada para Costa Rica. Esta reveló que el 70% de los hogares con huertos entrevistados presentan algún grado de INSAN, ya sea leve o moderado. Resultados del análisis de varianza (ANDEVA) y comparaciones posteriores con la prueba Post hoc Tukey reveló una tendencia de los hogares con SAN a tener más especies con uso en sus huertos con respecto a los huertos de hogares con Inseguridad Alimentaria (IA) Moderada (p = 0.089).
Se consultó a los participantes por observaciones de fauna silvestre en huerto. El grupo con mayores menciones son las aves (30 menciones), seguido por mamíferos (18), insectos (12) y anfibios y reptiles (2). A pesar de que los avistamientos o reportes no están identificados a nivel científico o de especie, si da una buena idea de la biodiversidad que llega al huerto y su relación con el entorno. Los huertos de San Luis demostraron tener potencial de contribuir ante desafíos como la pandemia o desastres naturales, en la conservación de especies nativas y al desarrollo local en San Luis, especialmente si se hace a través del enfoque del agroecoturismo y la diversificación de prácticas agroecológicas. Estas conclusiones demuestran la importancia de reconocer y valorar los huertos familiares como sistemas multifuncionales en la coexistencia entre las comunidades y los entornos naturales, y ofrecen perspectivas importantes para la toma de decisiones y la promoción de acciones sostenibles en comunidades rurales.
The homegarden is the productive unit analyzed in this study. These spaces are typically located around the home and are used for small-scale production and self-consumption. They serve for cultivating crops and raising small animals. In the case of Costa Rica, there has been little research conducted on homegardens. Therefore, this research examines the multifunctionality of the homegarden through elements such as the agrobiodiversity present, the influence of the socio-environmental context on it, traditional ecological knowledge related to species management and use, as well as the contribution of agrobiodiversity to Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) in households. It is known that biodiverse homegardens play a significant role in family FNS by increasing direct access to quality food and providing food diversity. The general methodological design of the research involved purposive sampling. A total of 23 homegardens were selected for the study in San Luis, Monteverde, Costa Rica. The average size of these homegardens was 909±480 square meters (mean ± standard deviation). Research techniques included multiple visits, interviews, surveys, and direct observation. Factors affecting species richness (excluding ornamental species) in the homegardens were analyzed. It was found that the age of the person in charge of the homegarden was 53±15 years (with a majority of women 86.9%). The age of the homegarden itself was 20±16 years, and the number of weekly hours dedicated to maintenance was 9±8. These factors showed a positive correlation with species richness meaning that greater age of the person, more years of homegarden existence, and more hours worked resulted in greater species diversity. The results indicated a high diversity of species in the homegardens, with a total of 182 species identified, including 13 animals and 169 plants, from 65 taxonomic families. A maximum of 78 species was recorded in one garden, while the minimum was 12. The plant families with the highest number of species were Fabaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, and Myrtaceae. The number of species is an important factor reflecting the versatility and multifunctionality of the family orchard, contributing to Food and Nutritional Security (SAN), and the conservation of agrobiodiversity. In San Luis, 100% of the household indicated self-consumption as the main purpose of the garden, followed by bartering (25%) or selling (17%). However, it was found that there is very little involvement of young people in homegarden management, with only six young people identified throughout the study. There are also very few children in households (the average is not even one child per household), and families are small, consisting of an average of three people. Faced with this reality, generational integration in agricultural succession could be a challenge, and traditional knowledge acquired by generations could be lost in a few decades. Additionally, in the past, San Luis has experienced high levels of Food Insecurity, which was assessed in this study using a food access perception scale adapted for Costa Rica. This revealed that 70% of surveyed households with homegardens experience some degree of food insecurity, either mild or moderate. Results from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and subsequent comparisons with the Tukey post hoc test revealed a trend of households with FNS to have more species with uses in their homegardens compared to households with Moderate Food Insecurity (IA) (p = 0.089). Participants were asked about wildlife observations in the garden. The group with the highest mentions is birds (30 mentions), followed by mammals (18), insects (12), and amphibians and reptiles (2). Although the sightings or reports are not scientifically identified at the species level, they provide a good idea of the biodiversity that reaches the homegarden and its relationship with the environment. Homegardens in San Luis demonstrated the potential to contribute to challenges such as the pandemic or natural disasters, in the conservation of native species and local development in San Luis, especially if done through the agroecotourism approach and the diversification of agroecological practices. These conclusions highlight the importance of recognizing and valuing homegardens as multifunctional systems in the coexistence between communities and natural environments, offering significant insights for decision-making and the promotion of sustainable actions in rural communities.
The homegarden is the productive unit analyzed in this study. These spaces are typically located around the home and are used for small-scale production and self-consumption. They serve for cultivating crops and raising small animals. In the case of Costa Rica, there has been little research conducted on homegardens. Therefore, this research examines the multifunctionality of the homegarden through elements such as the agrobiodiversity present, the influence of the socio-environmental context on it, traditional ecological knowledge related to species management and use, as well as the contribution of agrobiodiversity to Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) in households. It is known that biodiverse homegardens play a significant role in family FNS by increasing direct access to quality food and providing food diversity. The general methodological design of the research involved purposive sampling. A total of 23 homegardens were selected for the study in San Luis, Monteverde, Costa Rica. The average size of these homegardens was 909±480 square meters (mean ± standard deviation). Research techniques included multiple visits, interviews, surveys, and direct observation. Factors affecting species richness (excluding ornamental species) in the homegardens were analyzed. It was found that the age of the person in charge of the homegarden was 53±15 years (with a majority of women 86.9%). The age of the homegarden itself was 20±16 years, and the number of weekly hours dedicated to maintenance was 9±8. These factors showed a positive correlation with species richness meaning that greater age of the person, more years of homegarden existence, and more hours worked resulted in greater species diversity. The results indicated a high diversity of species in the homegardens, with a total of 182 species identified, including 13 animals and 169 plants, from 65 taxonomic families. A maximum of 78 species was recorded in one garden, while the minimum was 12. The plant families with the highest number of species were Fabaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, and Myrtaceae. The number of species is an important factor reflecting the versatility and multifunctionality of the family orchard, contributing to Food and Nutritional Security (SAN), and the conservation of agrobiodiversity. In San Luis, 100% of the household indicated self-consumption as the main purpose of the garden, followed by bartering (25%) or selling (17%). However, it was found that there is very little involvement of young people in homegarden management, with only six young people identified throughout the study. There are also very few children in households (the average is not even one child per household), and families are small, consisting of an average of three people. Faced with this reality, generational integration in agricultural succession could be a challenge, and traditional knowledge acquired by generations could be lost in a few decades. Additionally, in the past, San Luis has experienced high levels of Food Insecurity, which was assessed in this study using a food access perception scale adapted for Costa Rica. This revealed that 70% of surveyed households with homegardens experience some degree of food insecurity, either mild or moderate. Results from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and subsequent comparisons with the Tukey post hoc test revealed a trend of households with FNS to have more species with uses in their homegardens compared to households with Moderate Food Insecurity (IA) (p = 0.089). Participants were asked about wildlife observations in the garden. The group with the highest mentions is birds (30 mentions), followed by mammals (18), insects (12), and amphibians and reptiles (2). Although the sightings or reports are not scientifically identified at the species level, they provide a good idea of the biodiversity that reaches the homegarden and its relationship with the environment. Homegardens in San Luis demonstrated the potential to contribute to challenges such as the pandemic or natural disasters, in the conservation of native species and local development in San Luis, especially if done through the agroecotourism approach and the diversification of agroecological practices. These conclusions highlight the importance of recognizing and valuing homegardens as multifunctional systems in the coexistence between communities and natural environments, offering significant insights for decision-making and the promotion of sustainable actions in rural communities.
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Keywords
Agrobiodiversidad, Huertos Familiares, Autoconsumo, Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional