LEARNING THE VALUE OF GARDENING: RESULTS FROM AN EXPERIENCE OF COMMUNITY BASED SIMPLIFIED HYDROPONICS IN NORTH-EAST BRAZIL

Abstract

In the suburbs of main cities the introduction of gardening activities may be a
\nsustainable tool to reduce poverty and improve food security. However, due to
\nlimited access to fertile land horticultural production is constrained. The
\nintroduction of low cost hydroponic gardens may be a sustainable way to launch
\nhorticultural production on roofs, terraces and courtyards.
\nThe present work will examine the results of a survey among beneficiaries of
\na food security project in north-east Brazil after four years of activity. The project
\ninvolves 10 clubs of mothers (“clubes de maes”) where women were trained on
\nhydroponics and plant nutrition, technical management of simplified hydroponics
\nsystems, basic economical aspects of vegetables production, human nutrition,
\nassociative work. Those topics were also the aspects assessed by the survey. Results
\nshowed that the technical and practical aspects are the easiest to be adapted by the
\ngroups, whilst economical aspects and knowledge about human nutrition got lower
\nscores. Moreover, there were differences between “old” clubs (communities that
\nwere involved in the past in aid programs or development projects) and “new” ones
\n(groups formed by the project because of a strong interest in the hydroponic growing
\nsystem). The latter obtained better results although receiving less training than the
\nold clubs. Differences in scores are wide in particular as regards business and
\nadministration matters.