What´s homegarden to São João da Várzea farmers in Rio Grande do Norte?

Abstract

The spaces located in the surroundings of the houses are complex systems, in which a great diversity of species is managed, mainly, for family feeding and medicinal use. In scientific studies these spaces are called agroforestry homegardens or homegardens, but few studies characterize how farmers themselves term these spaces. The objective of the present work was to carry out an ethnobotanical survey in productive units of São João da Várzea, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, identifying with farmers the spaces and their characteristics. Participatory methodologies such as workshops, snowball technique, guided tour, participatory rapid diagnosis and cognitive maps were used. The knowledge of the local denominations of the different planting spaces is important for the accomplishment of studies in the agronomic and ethnobotanical area. In São João da Várzea, 15 spaces with special characteristics for agricultural activities were identified. The spaces have a diversity of plant species with a total of 154 species belonging to 63 botanical families, covering a total of 2474 plants. This fact associated to the management in each environment contributes to the food security of the families and maintenance of the local biodiversity. The spaces present differences in floristic composition related to water availability, size of the productive unit, soil type, socioeconomic,’ cultural condition of the family and the family's agricultural aptitude. The most frequent species are fruit such as Psidium guajava L., Cocos nucifera L., Annona squamosa L., Malpighia glabra L. and Carica papaya L.