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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A NEW innovative smart agriculture project, Hydroponics Gardening is set to improve Tongogara Refugee Camp inmates’ livelihoods.
Hydroponics Gardening is the growing of vegetables using water as a medium instead of soil.
The project which is being implemented at a total cost of US$172 000 is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe in terms of size and magnitude.
It is being funded by World Food Programme (WFP), and implemented by World Vision.
Five big greenhouses have been established for the project.
In an interview last week on Wednesday, World Vision project coordinator, Mr Joel Bizure, said the programme was set to address fresh farm produce shortages which the refugees were grappling with for a long time.
Mr Bizure said the project had a lot of benefits in terms of control of pests and diseases.
“This project is suitable for this area because it uses little water. We use water as a medium for growth instead of soil. We erected greenhouses, and water evaporates at a slower pace, while being used for a longer period. We have controlled use of water.
“The growth rate of vegetables in a hydroponics is faster than the convectional way of planting it in a soil,” he said.
Mr Bizure said livelihoods of the people in the camp would change as nutrition gardens would be availed under the project.
“This project has started with 210 beneficiaries, of which 45 percent of them are youths.
“We hope they can produce enough for themselves, and have surplus for sale and generate income,” he added.
Mr Bizure said that project also embraces the smart agriculture concept which is being encouraged by climate change experts.
Online Reporter