Story by Fungai Jachi
THE once-parched soils of Duriro village in Gokwe Chireya have been transformed into a flourishing hub of life and productivity, thanks to the government’s borehole sinking programme. More than 60 women are now reaping the rewards of this development through a thriving two-hectare nutrition garden, which is providing both sustainable nutrition for their families and a steady stream of income.
Every morning, the women of the Duriro Nutrition Garden commit their hands and hearts to the soil, confident that their labour will not only nourish their children but also yield surplus produce for sale.
“When we started working on this project, we changed the way we live. Now we have healthy lifestyles,” a beneficiary said.
“We are now able to eat vegetables we only saw when we went to town because they were not available locally, but through this garden, we now have them,” another beneficiary noted.
“We now have a surplus from what we are producing, and we have money to buy various goods. Apart from that, we are now able to give back to the community by supplying vegetables to the local clinic and prison,” a beneficiary added.
Agriculture Extension Specialist, Mrs Miriam Madziva, said they aim to add more crops to the two-hectare garden while also setting out plans for expansion to increase production.
“We already have several crops that we planted, and we are pleased with the yields. However, the plan is to make the most of the land we have and increase production. We are looking forward to driving agri-industrial development so that we create a critical mass for local industrial beneficiation of the vegetables,” she said.
Gokwe Chireya legislator Honourable Torerai Moyo emphasised the importance of supporting smallholder farmers to ensure food and nutrition security and enhance their income.
“The mantra of the Second Republic is to leave no one and no place behind, and the kind of production we are seeing here shows that it can be done if equal opportunities are presented to people, no matter where they are. Through the Presidential Borehole Sinking Programme, this place now has water, which is being utilised for the benefit of the locals, and this is impressive because it is not about money. Still, the health of the community,” he noted.
The government’s initiative to establish nutrition gardens and provide water in arid areas across the country has brought sustainable development to communities, while also promoting healthy lifestyles.
