The Sunday Mail
Poverty alleviation is one of the Millennium Development Goals adopted by member states of the United Nations in 2000. As one of the most important MDGs, the question becomes how do we — as member states — eradicate poverty?
Well, rural folk can stand to benefit through establishment of community gardens and these are simply farming areas set aside by villagers for the collective growing of crops to benefit everyone involved.
This was a common practice in traditional African society whereby chiefs would set aside land to grow crops for the chief’s kraal (Zunde Ramambo).
The harvest from these crops would be used to feed those less fortunate in the community, with selection of the beneficiaries done by fairly targeting those families that really needed assistance.
Coming together of communities is an initiative which still needs to be encouraged as the proceeds from such farming activities would be ploughed back into developmental projects in the community.
In setting up these gardens there is shared responsibility for the areas chosen improving security for the plot.
It becomes easier to co-ordinate donor assistance or to access Government input relief schemes.
Community gardens promote the sharing of farming knowledge as farmers have an opportuinity to interact during voluntary working times.
They give a sense of ownership to the community as they are directly involved in developing and managing the economy of their locale.
These gardens provide an opportunity to effectively bring the community together, providing a platform to deal with other social problems as they work as one.
Unemployed youths and individuals can be given an opportunity to do something worthwhile with their time, thereby minimising the incidence of crime and social vice.
Community gardens can also incorporate other activities such as fish farming, chicken and pig rearing in combination with gardens where vegetables, fruits and other crops are grown.
The community can benefit from accessing vegetables and meats at cheap prices or even for free in well-deserving cases.
Medicinal plants such as garlic and ginger can be grown in these gardens for the benefit of those with terminal illnesses that respond well to organic foods.
Gardens can be an excellent training ground for youths to learn about farming, where older folk can pass their wealth of knowledge to the younger generations.
And the whole village will benefit from better nutrition for children.
This model of collective gardening should not be restricted to rural communities but also is applicable to urban dwellers, where some form of memberrship would be enlisted for easier management.
Urban folk can have a place to retreat from the noise and air polluition.
Property value actually increases where community gardens are present as there is an improvement in the landscape.
Urban home waste can be recycled using it to make composts reducing the amount of waste that has to be collected by municipalities.
Community gardens, however, can face many challenges such as the lack of irrigation equipment, power struggles and unequal distribution of harvests, amongst others. Management commitees would go a long way in resolving the challenges faced.
The implementation of community gardens throughout the year ensures a constant flow of income, improving the quality of life of families involved.
Finances are made available to pay school fees for children, while access to medical care improves.
Other social benefits include exercise, stress reduction and improving community relationships.
Gardens help the community to tackle tough times such as droughts and can be used as a platform for other community clubs such as sewing and sports.
There is no doubt that community gardens can have a meaningful impact on both urban and rural communities, particularly among the low income households.
Government — through local authorities — should promote estalishment of community gardens.
The continued influx of cheap vegetable and fruit imports is a major hindrance to efforts to alleviate poverty, so perhaps it is high time that the instituted ban on perishable imports is truly enforced for the benefit of local farmers.
For further details Andrew can be contacted by email on [email protected]
