HOUSEHOLD TREE HOLDINGS - A CASE-STUDY IN MUTOKO COMMUNAL AREA, ZIMBABWE

Tree holdings at homesteads and in homefields were investigated for tw o villages in Zimbabwe. Of the households, 90% owned at least one exot ic tree. Trees were concentrated at homesteads and conserved indigenou s trees tended to be edible fruit trees. Female heads of households (d ivorcees and widows) had fewer trees than households headed by men. Ho useholds with longer period of residence at a site had increased the p roportion of indigenous fruit trees compared to non-fruit trees. Wealt h status showed no relationship to tree holdings. The considerable tre e planting and tree conservation activity around homesteads and in hom efields has the effect of replacing non-fruit indigenous trees with ex otic and indigenous fruit trees. Agroforestry research, extension and development should focus more on current practices, Concentrate more o n trees that farmers favour (such as fruit trees) and take into accoun t differences among households.