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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

THE community of Mtandawenema Village in the Garanyemba area has launched its first viable smart horticulture project following the establishment of a solar-powered drip irrigation garden, which is part of a broader livestock drought mitigation centre set up by Government.

The initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in the area, providing a reliable water source for crops and helping to mitigate the effects of drought on livestock.

Garanyemba area, which is generally dry, has a history of water challenges, making it difficult for villagers to engage in viable horticulture projects.

Two solar-powered boreholes have been drilled at the centre and a water storage tank with a carrying capacity of 30 000 litres, has been mounted at the site. The water supplies a one-hectare garden, cattle troughs and taps for domestic use.

The Garanyemba drought mitigation centre, which is the first of its kind, was established by Government under the livestock drought mitigation programme as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of drought on the country’s livestock sector.

These centres will be replicated in all 1 620 rural wards in the country. The centres will house solar-powered boreholes, nutrition gardens, livestock feeding troughs, livestock water troughs, supplementary feeding troughs and livestock sales centres.

The vice chairperson of the garden project, Mr Freeman Hlazo said they are operating their project as a business enterprise. The project has 61 members. They have planted rape, spinach and cabbage. The garden uses a drip irrigation system.

“We are delighted that we have this project that will significantly benefit us as a community. We have been only able to produce under rain-fed agriculture but our crops were not doing well because of poor rains,” said Mr Hlazo.

He said some villagers had tried to establish small gardens, but struggled to sustain them because of water challenges. 

Ms Sibusisiwe Nyathi, a community member, said the project will economically empower women and help to fight gender-based violence.

“We now have a big garden which has a reliable water source. We have planted leafy crops which include rape, spinach and cabbage. We plan to grow a variety of crops such as legumes, fodder, and maize among others,” she said.

“Government, through Agritex, has come in to educate us on how to run our project focusing on land preparation, selecting crops, planting, nurturing and harvesting crops including the and marketing aspect.”

Another community member, Ms Nyathi, said: “As women from this community, we are pleased because we now have a project that will see us become empowered. We will be able to sell our produce and get money to sustain our families.”

She said some of the women in the local community are widows and they need a reliable source of income. 

“We will also be able to provide our children with nutritious food. One of the causes of gender-based violence is poverty within families which causes tension. If families have a revenue source then this might eliminate some of the tensions,” said Ms Nyathi.

Mtandawenema village head, Mr Mlamuleli Moyo, said the garden project is the first of its kind in Ward 13.