Melinda Kusemachibi
Community gardens in various parts of the country are proving to be a source of livelihood and major drivers of development as gardeners mainly in the countryside accrue numerous health benefits including improved access to food, nutrition, increased physical activity and mental health and also to promote social health and community cohesion through accountability engagements with local leaders.
Buhera ward 18 councillor Wisdom Jiri said their ward has also not been spared from such a wave as villagers are actively participating in the community garden initiatives.
Speaking during an engagement meeting organized by TellZim News in partnership with ZIMCODD at Sweraumire Garden News Club on May 21, 2022, Jiri said community gardens are a major booster for development.
“Community gardens are important as they boost development by providing a balanced diet to families and also profits from produce sales. We have 10 gardens in our district and we are appealing for an improved road networks to ferry our garden produce to markets,” said Jiri.
He went on to say that they used to do garden shows which promoted production of good quality produce but after the Covid-19 outbeak they had stopped.
“We used to do garden shows where farmers would be rated as they compete and that promoted production of good quality products. But Covid-19 disturbed our shows and hopefully we are going to resume them soon,” added Jiri.
Garden chairperson Janet Chidhakwa said lack of markets is a challenge to them and encouraged garden members to continue using natural ways of controlling pests in absence of chemicals.
“Lack of markets is a challenge to us here, but l continue to encourage the garden members to use natural ways of pest control using chaff from rapoko and other grain crops in place of expensive pesticides,” said Chidhakwa.
Village head Tavengwa Mumbijo said unity is the main key to development.
“Unity on working together is the main key to development, so I continue to encourage people to be united, work together and achieve the development we want in our community,” said Mumbijo.
Community gardens initiatives have seen people in most rural communities engaging in various horticulture projects which improve their food security, nutrition as well as getting income from produce sales.
