Characterization of useful plants cultivated in productive homegardens in a rural community in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

Productive homegardens are spaces around homes with different plant species associated with information on technology, appropriate management, food promotion, and nutritional education. They ensure product quality, distribution, access mechanisms to food, and mainly place-based development on family farming, becoming a great tool for food security and species conservation. The article analyzed the influence of gender and age on the use and knowledge of prominent plants cultivated in productive homegardens in the Fornos community, a rural area in Picos, Piauí, Brazil. The research performed semi-structured interviews, guided tours, and the application of free lists. In the 21 homegardens studied, the analysis recorded 76 species belonging to 67 genera and 38 families, highlighting the families Apocynaceae (5spp.), Fabaceae (5spp.) Lamiaceae (5spp.), Rutaceae (5spp.), Solanaceae (5spp.). Euphorbiaceae was the family with the largest number of representatives, with (699) individuals. In the homegardens surveyed, the gender or age of managers was not responsible for differences in species richness or number of individuals (structure). The preferred plants were classified into five categories (food, medicinal, ornamental, aesthetic, and shade production), and there is an overlap between the plants mentioned in the food and medicinal categories among the 14 preferred plants. Homegardens associated with traditional knowledge about useful plants, especially food plants, represent a main resource for food security in the semi-arid region, whose species provide several health benefits and improve the local quality of life.