Cultivo residencial utilizado por estudantes do campus de engenharias e ciências agrárias da Universidade Federal de Alagoas

Abstract

Residential cultivation has become an increasingly common practice among students at the Campus of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Alagoas. This phenomenon encompasses a wide range of motivations, from seeking economic means to cultivating for personal consumption, therapy for mental health issues, and simply pursuing an enriching pastime. The present study examines the multifaceted role of residential cultivation in this context; many students resort to home production as an economic strategy to address financial challenges, enabling them to meet dietary needs with limited budgets. Additionally, growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs provides access to fresh and healthy food, promoting conscious and sustainable eating. This practice also proves therapeutic, with students reporting mental health benefits, including stress, anxiety, and depression reduction, thanks to the connection with nature and the emotional rewards of caring for plants. Moreover, residential cultivation has become a significant hobby, promoting well-being and creativity while establishing communities of students with similar interests. However, challenges such as space availability and agronomic knowledge may arise. Therefore, students employ various skills and knowledge to make the cultivation of crops in their homes real and efficient. During the research, the most accessible method for data collection was the formulation of online forms through Google Forms, where students found ease in accessing them. Three distinct questionnaires were elaborated and applied on different dates to obtain the results. The results were collected from the mentioned forms and presented in the form of graphs. These graphs allowed for a visual comparison of the responses from the three questionnaires, facilitating the analysis of differences over time or among groups of respondents. This comparative analysis contributed to a deeper understanding of residential cultivation among university students.