KITCHEN GARDENING AS A SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD AND EXERCISE FOR SMALL FARMERS: A REVIEW

Abstract

Home gardening has emerged as a crucial sustainable livelihood strategy for smallholder farmers, simultaneously addressing food security, income diversification, and health challenges. This review synthesizes empirical evidence from South Asia and global contexts to evaluate the role of home gardens in improving household nutrition, generating supplementary income, and promoting physical activity. Utilizing data from systematic literature reviews and case studies in Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, this paper highlights its contributions to dietary diversification, reduced household expenditures, and the empowerment of rural women. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework applied to agricultural livelihood studies demonstrates significant pathways linking home gardening to enhanced food security, increased rural resilience, and psychosocial well-being. The findings indicate that beyond economic benefits, gardening activities such as planting, weeding, and harvesting provide moderate physical exercise, reduce stress, and improve farmers' overall health. This review concludes that home gardening is a multidimensional intervention that integrates livelihoods, nutrition, and well-being, offering strong policy relevance for rural development programs