Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma, Business Correspondent
VILLAGERS in Ndolwane in Bulilima district have set up a 0,75 acre community garden which is expected to become a food security and business venture to facilitate a consistent source of income and nutrituin for its beneficiaries.
Located near Ndolwane Business Centre the garden is a brainchild of Oxfam and has 79 members consisting 56 females and 23 males of which 12 are youths namely 9 females and 3 males.
The garden has 864 beds with the water being sourced from a solar powered borehole with storage of 15 000 litre tanks.
In an interview on the sidelines of the tour of the garden by Bulilima West MP Cde Dingumuzi Phuti and the local leadership on Tuesday, Ndolwane Agritex Officer Ms Sibonginkosi Tshuma said the project will operate as a horticulture garden.
“The initiative which was facilitated by Oxfam will serve as a horticulture garden and is response to climate change where rain fed farming is no longer viable.
“After a study of the soul, the community will start planting by next week produce among them green vegetables, tomatoes, carrots, butternut, green pepper, beetroot and green mealies. As time goes on and in light of the market trend and climate we will be advising the community of which crops to plant,” said Ms Tshuma.
Ndolwane garden chairperson Mrs Sicatshisiwe Nyathi said the project came to effect in February and was stalled during the start of the ongoing pandemic which led to a lockdown being induced by President Mnangagwa on March 30.
“We started clearing land on February 14 where we were working twice a week and we stopped due to Covid-19 until we resumed operations in June.
“Through dedication and hardwork we have managed to finally prepare the land for farming and with funds from the gardens coffers we are going to buy crops for planting which is set to start by next week,” said Mrs Nyathi.
Mrs Nyathi said the water availability has also come as a boost for livestock production in the area.
“As agriculture is not only in farming the water sourced from the solar powered borehole has become a panacea to livestock production to villagers as we have set up a tank where the animals can drink water.
“The animals are adapting finely to the development as seen with their growth at a time we are faced with drought,” she said.
Cde Phuti pledged to fund the community garden with bags of cement for the construction of a toilet within the garden premises which has already been pegged and also pledged to provide seedlings if needed.
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