Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
VILLAGERS have been urged to establish “keyhole” gardens as a way of mitigating the effects of the El Nino-induced drought and ensuring food and nutrition security at household level.
Keyhole gardens are small backyard gardens that are watered using wastewater.
Farmers can use organic fertilisers to improve the performance of the soil. They can grow various horticulture crops in the gardens.
Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Services’ Matabeleland South provincial director, Mrs Shupikai Sibanda said establishing keyhole gardens can help communities to complement the Government’s grain distribution programme largely targeting vulnerable households.
“A keyhole garden is a type of garden bed designed to conserve water and reduce evaporation. The gardens reduce water loss which may occur through evaporation and runoff. The use of compost improves crop yield,” she said.
Mrs Sibanda said farmers can take the water they use for domestic use to water their crops in the garden.
“There is a method of straining the water to remove particles before watering the crops. These gardens help to ensure that villagers have access to nutritious food,” she said.
Mrs Sibanda said keyhole gardens help address challenges around food security and nutrition.
“Some families might not have adequate water to sustain big gardens as a result of the drought hence the need to establish these backyard gardens which need little water,” she said.
Mrs Sibanda said her department is working with other partners to educate farmers on the importance of the backyard gardens during drought years.
“Its very important to ensure food and nutrition security at household level first,” she said.
Government has put in place various measures to cushion communities against the effect of the El Nino-induced drought and one of them is the drought relief programme. More than 6,1 million people in rural areas and another 1,6 million people in urban areas will be provided with food aid until the next harvest.
In Matabeleland region alone, more than one million people have been registered to receive food aid.
Under the drought relief programme, each person receives 7,5 kgs every three months and from October, the Government will increase the allocation by an additional kilogramme until March next year.
Government has also adopted a build-back better strategy where able-bodied beneficiaries will be deployed to rehabilitate infrastructure projects in their communities.
A drought relief command centre was also established to help bring all relevant stakeholders together to ensure smooth and effective co-ordination of food aid distribution and cash to needy communities.
President Mnangagwa has assured the nation that no one will die of hunger. —@DubeMatutu
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter