Homestead Gardening Guidelines

The Homestead Gardening Guidelines provide practical approaches for small-scale vegetable production in highly space and resource constrained settings. Developed by FAO, WFP, and the Food Security Sector, the guidelines draw on partner experience including contributions from Concern Worldwide to support household-level food production and improve access to nutritious foods.

The approach responds to conditions in Cox’s Bazar, where dense populations, degraded environments, and exposure to hazards such as landslides and extreme weather limit traditional agriculture. Gardening at household level contributes to improved food security, dietary diversity, environmental restoration, and psychosocial wellbeing. 

The guidelines emphasise low-space, low-input, and risk-aware techniques, integrating gardening with environmental protection measures and climate realities. Six production systems are outlined, with pit, sack, vertical, trellis, and multilayer systems identified as most suitable due to their adaptability to limited space and poor soil conditions. 

Implementation must consider seasonal risks, including heavy rainfall, cyclones, drought, and pest outbreaks, requiring careful crop selection and timing. Recommended crops prioritise nutritional value and productivity, while inputs remain low-cost and locally adaptable.

Overall, the guidance highlights that homestead gardening is feasible and impactful in humanitarian contexts when combined with training, appropriate technologies, and ongoing learning.