Food security remains a high priority for the government of Sri Lanka. As a part of the
post-conflict rebuilding of Sri Lanka, the government is promoting establishment of home
gardens for reducing hunger and malnutrition and improving livelihoods. Since the civil war
ended in 2009, the government and non-governmental organizations have established more than
500 home gardens in the Northern region of Sri Lanka. This research was conducted in the Jaffna
District of Sri Lanka which was severely affected by the conflict. The objective of this research
was to investigate the role of home gardens in enhancing food security. This research study took
a three prong approach. First, the past experiences of home gardens in developing countries were
analyzed through a rigorous literature review. Second, the current role of home gardens as a
supplemental source of food was analyzed using research data obtained through the survey of
167 home gardens. Finally, the findings of the research were used to develop innovative
strategies to enhance home gardens.
The global literature supports the positive contributions of home gardens towards
enhancing food security in various contexts while pinpointing key constraints. The literature
review supports the inclusion and promotion of home gardens as an eco-friendly sustainable
agricultural practice to improve food security. The results of the survey of home gardens in
Jaffna District indicated that as many as 29 useful plant species were found in home gardens.
The home gardens were found to be diverse and were providing supplemental sources of fresh
and nutritionally rich food products. The most important constraints identified were weeds, soil
fertility, pests, shortage of capital and labor, and timely access to information and advisory
services. The home gardeners strongly stated the need for training in specific areas such as bee
keeping, composting, maintaining nurseries of planting materials, pest and soil management.
Based on the needs and constraints identified by the home gardeners, four programs are
proposed a collaborative activity between Michigan State University and University of Jaffna
(UoJ). First, a model home garden will be established at the UoJ campus to serve as a research,
education and outreach site. Second, a Master Home Gardener Program will be developed
involving progressive gardeners to serve as trainers for other home gardeners. Third, a userfriendly
manual on best practices in home gardening will be developed to enhance educational
programs. Lastly, an innovative program will be launched using mobile phones to empower local
home gardeners with up-to-date information on home gardening. Overall, the results of this
research study indicate that home gardens are contributing to food security, income generation
and livelihoods in the Northern region of Sri Lanka. When total value of produce per home
garden was extrapolated to a million home gardens as per the long-term goals of the Sri Lankan
government, the economic value was estimated to be nearly US $300 million. Based on these
results, it is recommended that the home gardens program should be scaled-up and further
expanded in other parts of Sri Lanka.