DESCRIPTION AND DIVERSITY OF FAMILY BACKYARDS IN RURAL ZONES OF CAMPECHE, MÉXICO

Abstract

With the goal of understanding the characteristics of family backyards in rural zones of Campeche, México, a diagnosis was performed in seven municipalities that are part of the national program Cruzada contra el hambre. Of the rural localities with less than 2,500 inhabitants, 10 % were selected, and 184 questionnaires were applied to those responsible for backyards selected randomly. A conglomerate analysis was carried out to determine similar groups. Of the families, 100 % obtain foods from the backyard, 67 % use it for aesthetic purposes, and 15 % for other purposes. We identified 223 plant species and seven animals. Two different groups of backyards were observed: G1 with an average of 2,695.3 m² of
area, 11.4 and 2.7 plant and animal species in average, a Shannon-Weaver index of 1.6, covering 12.5 % of the backyards; and G2 with an average of 606.5 m², 8.5 and 2.1 plant and animal species in average, a Shannon-Weaver index of 1.66, made up of 86.9 % of the backyards studied. In both groups, the principal animal species in order of importance because of their presence were (Gallus gallus domesticus), turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo L.), pigs (Sus escrofa domesticus) and ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus and
Cairina moschata domesticus). The family backyards in rural zones with high degree of marginalization in Campeche constitute a culturally accepted strategy to provide food and economic income to the family, as well as an aesthetic element, and they are used for protection against environmental factors; they are promoted and preserved primarily by women.