adminSifelani Tsiko
Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
The veggies are plentiful, onions, carrots and tomatoes are thriving, Zenzele Community Garden at Ndibe Village in Ward 18 of Gwanda South District is in full swing!
It has been a busy few months for 38 villagers who regularly pull up their sleeves at the community garden, with farmer field trainings, weeding and irrigation of their crops keeping the dedicated group of gardeners busy in this dry and arid area in the southern part of the country.
The villagers are reaping the rewards of an excellent crop of tomatoes, onions, vegetables and carrots, which has earned the group R80 000 from sales to local people, schools, clinics and business centres.
Through a US$1,3 million project implemented by Practical Action and funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the project has made it possible after a long struggle of poor water availability, for the community to succeed in its effort to sustain a year – round garden site.
“The support we got from Practical Action through the installation of a solar powered irrigation system has improved water availability here at our garden,” said Loveness Ndlovu (56) of Ndibe village.
“This has helped us a lot. We are now able to grow vegetables, onions, tomatoes, carrots and green mealies throughout the year. In the past, it was tough as the Sinayi Dam and our boreholes would dry up.”
Under the project, Practical Action installed a solar — powered water pumping system, provided irrigation pipes and equipment and sunk boreholes to sustain the community garden.
Today, Zenzele Community Garden at Ndibe village in the Ward 18 of Gwanda rural district is a success story and farmers there have earned more than 80 000 rands since May this year from their crop sales.
“Since May when the solar powered irrigation system was installed, we have sold our produce worth R80 000 to locals, schools, clinics and business centres in our area,” said Ndlovu.
“It’s unbelievable to us. Access to water alone can do wonders. The garden has improved our earnings and livelihoods. We now have hope for the future. It has never happened before and it’s a great achievement for our community.”
The community gardens have become a well-established means of improving food security, nutrition, health and economic security for villagers in the Ndibe area of Gwanda South.
Pono Moyo, 42, another villager, said it was pleasing that their community was now working towards the self-sufficiency of their village.
“Solar irrigation has reduced the burden of work on us as women. We now have access to clean water, fresh vegetables and we are earning money to buy meat, food and other needs for our families,” she said.
“Our savings are now R53 000 after meeting other expenditures. We are saving because we need to buy another water pump to boost our water levels for irrigation. I’m a widow and I’m looking after orphans and elderly people in our family.
“The garden has changed our lives. I feel empowered and happy that I am now able to earn money and take care of my family.”
The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) has supported the setting up of 18 solar power systems in gardens dotted around Gwanda and Matobo districts to empower women.
The programme has enabled the revival and establishment of new community gardens which have become viable settings to improve the ability of smallholders and their communities to meet interrelated concerns of food security, nutrition, health and economic security.
Other community gardens such as Vusisizwe B (Ward 14), Selonga — Phakamani (Ward 15), Santshangwa (Ward 15), Retsweletsi (Ward 12), Qedudubo (Ward 13) and Ntuthuko (Ward 11) have all made important contributions to food security as an additional food source or by supplying off-season production.
In this dry and arid, which receives low rainfall and is prone to droughts, villagers can now grow vegetables and other cash crops throughout the year in addition to their dry land agricultural farming.
Community gardens, which stand out as oasis of greenery over vast tracts of parched land, have reduced the vulnerability of poor villagers.
The farmers say they are no longer vulnerable to food insecurity, poverty and poor social standing.
“We value greatly the support we have received from Practical Action in the form of the solar power irrigation system,” said Lostina Dube, 45, of Vusisizwe Community Garden in the Sengezana area of Gwanda South.
“Our vegetables are growing well and we are very proud that we are now food secure. We are selling vegetables to the local community. So far we have earned more than R 7000 for our crop sales.
“Without access to water and irrigation technology, we could not be able to attain this success. We could be wallowing in poverty by now.”
Limakatso Moyo of the 46-member Selonga Phakamani Community Garden feels empowered and ready to support youth involvement.
“We are earning in rands here and we want our children to see the value of land and agriculture in lifting their lives,” she said. “Jobs are scarce in South Africa and Botswana and the situation has been made worse by Covid-19.
“Improved water access, solar powered irrigation and access to inputs and training can help us retain our children on the land. Rands are in this soil and there is no need for them to trek down south in search of jobs. Many of young people end up being involved in crime and drugs.
“We have buried a lot our young people here and we pray, with the money we are getting from gardens they will stay home and till the land for their own prosperity.”
Said Tsebeletso Ndlovu (45) of the Santshangwa Community Garden in the Thibeli area of Gwanda South: “I don’t want to South Africa. We are leading a far much better life here because of improved access to water and solar powered irrigation gardens.
“I can get R 2000 from crop sales a week when we have a good harvest. I have enough food to eat and I am getting enough money to buy clothes, groceries and to pay fees for my children. Rands are here.”
Gardening is now a powerful tool to fight poverty and reduce a family’s vulnerability in Gwanda.
Gardens now provide fresh, marketable food that supplements family diets and boosts family incomes.
The availability of vegetables has improved family diets because villagers now eat vegetables every day.
Gardens are not only providing food for the families but also generating a reliable income now.
“Through community gardens, local communities can get a sense of independence, food security, skills development and earn income to boost their livelihoods,” said Innocent Katsande, a communications specialist at Practical Action.
“Farmers can now grow crops all year round in addition to their own rain-fed dry land agriculture farming activities. Gardens are key in building their resilience to climate change and the new emerging challenges such as Covid -19.”
Despite the improving livelihoods, farmers are now grappling with pests and diseases which are attacking their crops.
Farmers are struggling to control and eliminate the Tuta absoluta pest, commonly known as tomato leaf miner which tunnels through leaves threatening tomato production and trade.
The disease which mainly targets tomatoes, tobacco, eggplants and cabbages, is spreading rapidly in most parts of the country, leaving farmers distressed.
Weather changes too, tended to affect the solar irrigation system. When its cloudy and cooler, water output can fall affecting the gardening activities.
Others complained about poor access to markets and the rising cost of seed and other farm inputs.
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