The economy of most ejidatarios in northern Mexico are struggling due to economic and social problems. As incomes, decline more pressure is usually put in the land leading to overuse of their range resources. This study was conducted at Ejido Santa Ana Viejo and Santa Martha aiming to monitor producers� perception about the implementation of home gardens as means of food production, to promote family unity and to increase family income. Surveys were randomly applied to one hundred and ten ejidatarios during the summer of 2016. Descriptive statistics were the means for data analysis. Results show that 95% of small (cattle) farmers agreed to establish home gardens within their fields (60% men vs 40% women). Women showed the greater interest in participating in this project. Mothers believe that growing vegetables like tomatoes, chili, squash, carrots, onions, potatoes, radishes, okra and others in their backyards could reduce from 30 to 75% their expenditure in the purchase of these products. They believe that if three members of the family invested two hours of labor per day in this endeavor, it would be suffice to accomplish their goals. About 95% of surveyors underlined the low participation of children and teenagers in farming operation. They believe that excessive use of cell phones and tablets plus the time they spend in school, are affecting family behavior and every day it becomes more difficult to involve them in farming activities such as milking, cheese production, planting and irrigating forage feeds for grazing animals. Ninety five percent of the surveyors view this project as an ideal alternative to bring the family back together. We conclude that home gardens may provide an alternative income source to increase household stability. In addition, parents felt it could, promote family integration and in the future, better their social rangeland management.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.