Zimbabwe: Urban farming – survival strategy for most underprivileged families
We decided to utilise the bush across our homes to do gardening for different types of vegetables.
By Judith Phiri
Zimbabwe Daily
Jan 12, 2021
Excerpt:
Sunday News took a tour in some of the Bulawayo suburbs where people have been practicing urban farming. Ward 7 councillor, Shadreck Sibanda said they realised that some of the people in high density suburbs struggle to get food, hence they were working with the Bulawayo City Council to help the less privileged in Makokoba in urban agriculture. Over 100 families have benefited from the programme.
“The council identified the land and provided it to them so that they can be able to do gardening. As you are aware areas such as Makokoba and Mzilikazi, among others are congested and most of the yards do not have space for gardening. So with the availed land, people are able to sustain their lives through agriculture,” said Clr Sibanda.
He added that they also provided residents with seeds to plant maize last month and they will continue to assist the people as there was a borehole to assist them access water,” he said.
Mr Bekithemba Tshuma of Richmond, a vendor said seeing that he might not be able to be selling his wares he decided to utilise space around his house.
“As l won’t be able to be going to the market to buy razors, combs, cockroach pesticides and watches which l usually sell, I thought it would be best to do farming of crops such as tomatoes, onions, green beans and cucumbers which l can easily sell to get a few cents,” said Mr Tshuma.
