Homestead is a low-cost production system that benefits family nutrition, increase household income, provides a buffer to food insecurity during lean season, provides habitat protection and soil conservation. In Bangladesh, homestead occupies about 0.27 million hectares of total land. In present context of Bangladesh, homestead is more appropriate for resource poor farmers. The Teknaf peninsula is situated at the southeast corner of Bangladesh, which is a food shortage area. The aim of this study was to investigate the homestead production system for sustainable food supply and its contribution to annual income of the smallholders. The study was conducted in Teknaf in September 2016. A total 100 households were selected randomly and were investigated coving four major ethnic communities namely Bengali, Rakhaine, Chakma and Rohingya. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection. We found various components in homesteads including timber, fruit, vegetables, poultry, and livestock. The horizontal and vertical arrangements showed that homesteads were diversified with various plant species including seasonal and annual vegetables and fruits. On an average about 60%, 47% and 40% requirements of vegetables, fruits and animal products of a household were contributed from the homestead. It was observed few householders sold their extra products to the local market for income generation. Moreover, homesteads also provided a large amount of egg, meat, milk and fish. Incomes generated from homesteads were higher for Chakma households, followed by those of households within the Bengali, Rakhaine and Rohingya communities. In most of the cases household members managed the homestead production system that is why it is a low-cost and sustainable production system. Homestead contributed more than 25% to the annual income and there is still scope to improve homesteads for income generation. Therefore, a well-designed homestead could ensure food supply, food security and high income generation for the householders.

Biography:
Md. Abiar Rahman is a Professor, Department of Agroforestry and Environment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) where he has been a faculty member since 2001. Abiar completed his PhD at Kyushu University, Japan in 2008. His research interests lie in the area of Agroforestry and Environment with a focus on sustainable crop production and food security. In recent years, he has focused on homestead for sustainable food production. Abiar has published 31papers and supervised 14 MS students. He has presented his works in 19 conferences. He offers three courses at graduate and undergraduate levels of BSMRAU.