Baree (Homestead Garden) as a Socio-Ecological System in Rural Assam-A Review

In rural Assam, the Baree (homestead garden) holds a special position in every household. It represents a multifunctional homestead-based agroforestry and food-production system. In the context of Assam, the term Baree has a broader meaning than the conventional concept of a home garden as it includes agroforestry systems associated with the household compound. In Assam, 'Baree' refers to a traditional land-use practice where a variety of plant species, such as timbers, firewood, vegetables, fruits, plantation crops, spices, herbs, ornamentals, and some other elements of farming systems, such as livestock, poultry, fisheries, sericulture, beekeeping, etc., are maintained by the members of the farm family with the primary goal of fulfilling various household needs, livelihood resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services (Barua et al., 2019).

The Baree system has deep historical roots in Assam. According to literature, the practice has existed since time immemorial and was associated with Hiuen Tsang and the Mughal-era historian Shihabuddin Talish. The system became more organised during the Ahom period, particularly during the reign of Swargadeo Pratap Singha (1603–1641 AD), when Momai Tamuli Borbarua, a chief of the Revenue office, re-organised villages and promoted Baree as a self-sufficient household production system contributing to the economic well-being and self-reliance of farming families. Thus, the historical development of Baree reflects not only an agricultural practice but also an institutional approach to household-level food production, resource management and rural self-reliance (Barua et al., 2019).

Baree in Assam is not a uniform system; it takes different forms depending on its location and how the land is used. Broadly, it can be classified into three types: Integrated Baree, Meroni and Paam. Integrated Baree is the common homestead-based system, where a variety of trees, vegetables and other useful plants are grown around the house, mainly to meet household needs. Meroni, often referred to as a fenced Baree, is generally found on relatively higher land and may be used for growing seasonal crops along with timber, bamboo, citrus and other useful plants. Paam, on the other hand, is usually found in riverine areas, where cultivation practices are adapted to the seasonal flooding and changing conditions of the land (Barua et al., 2019).

The diversity and multifunctionality of Baree make it particularly relevant to contemporary discussions on biodiversity and ecosystem processes. A proper Baree provides food and nutritional security, livelihood diversification, traditional ecological knowledge and human well-being. The interaction between ecological components and household activities makes Baree an example of a socio-ecological system (SES). A socio-ecological perspective is particularly useful because humans are not external to the Baree ecosystem. Decisions on planting, conservation, harvesting, selling or replacing affect biodiversity and the ecosystem services that affect household food, income and well-being. In India, Assam is the state with the highest concentration of these Baree/homegarden systems (Sharma et al., 2022). An ICAR report estimated that Assam has around 6.4 million homegardens, covering nearly 85% of all households in the state (Barua et al., 2019). However, in recent times, increasing urbanisation, land fragmentation, commercialisation and changing lifestyles are transforming traditional multi-species Baree systems. Against this background, the present review conceptualizes Baree as a 'socio-ecological system' and examines its interconnected contributions to biodiversity, food, livelihoods, human well-being and resilience in rural Assam.