Communal garden team stands against food insecurity

With South Africans being concerned about food security, Kick Poverty Away Agricultural Cooperation realised a need to educate youngsters about the significance of local farming.
The team of farmers from Makhulong Section began with their farming programme in 2019 to eradicate criminal activities, such as theft, robbery and rape in overgrown areas, which they turned into neat communal gardens.
These locals produced various vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, lettuce, beetroot and tomatoes.
According to John Modise, one of the members of the cooperation’s team, there were multiple crime incidents in the area.
“The farming programme has created an element of security for residents,” said Modise.
Modise said the garden was inspired by the shared passion for gardening and farming between him and his neighbour Martha Maluleka.
“I used to admire Martha’s skills in her yard. That was when we came up with the idea to start a vegetable garden that is now benefiting our families and community,” Modise said.
“We had a lot of people when the programme started because they assumed that they were going to generate income from working here. Some disappeared when they realised that there was no income from the programme.”
Despite the challenges they face, the team remains grateful for the opportunity they have to grow fresh crops that help them feed their families without having to pay a penny for food.
They also encourage young people to participate in the farming programme, particularly those who have an underlying passion for agriculture and wish to further their studies in the agricultural field.
“Young people should abandon the perception that farming is only for the poor or illiterate people given the concerns about food insecurity.”
The team is up against several challenges that come with their garden, including shortage of water, access to appropriate farming equipment, such as tractors, tools and seeds, and a security fence that will protect their crops from nearby animals that devour the garden.
They are pleading with the Thembisan community to aid them with donations too.
“We care about our crops because they help us feed our families and community. Any donation can tremendously assist us to improve the garden and be able to add more seeds so that we can all enjoy the fresh crops that come from our soil,” Modise concluded.