Agroforestry homegardens for indigenous resilience: a participatory study in Brazil

This study examines the strategic role of agroforestry homegardens in enhancing food security and resilience in Surrounded Indigenous Lands, with a focus on the Guarani Mbya community in the Ribeirão Silveira Indigenous Land, Brazil. Employing a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, the research collaboratively adapted agroforestry models to small-scale backyard systems, in response to the logistical challenges of managing larger agricultural areas. The results indicate that these agroforestry homegardens integrate traditional indigenous knowledge with agroecological practices, reinforce household food security function as sites for the transmission of biocultural knowledge, and strengthen community self-determination in the face of external economic, territorial, and cultural pressures. The study highlights the critical importance of supporting small-scale agroecological initiatives within Indigenous Lands exposed to urban and peri-urban dynamics. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of resilience strategies in Indigenous contexts and underscore the potential of participatory agroecology to sustain cultural identity, promote food sovereignty, and improve community well-being in rapidly changing landscapes.