Homestead farming is a historical tradition that has evolved in many tropical countries over a long period of time. It is generally recognised as a system for the production of subsistence crops for the cultivator and his/ her family.

    Numerous terms such as mixed garden horticulture, home gardening, Javanese home gardening, compound farming, mixed or house gardening, kitchen gardening, household gardening, homestead agroforestry, etc., are used to denote these practices. A typical home garden is an adjunct to the house, where selected trees, shrubs and herbs grown, not only for edible fruits/vegetables, but also for medicinal, ornamental, socio-economic and ideological benefits.

    Homesteads exhibit a multi-tiered canopy structure somewhat identical to the tropical evergreen forests. Perhaps the forest like structure of tropical home gardens is derived either from the lack of a discernible planting pattern, or....