BACKYARD GARDEN BECOMES A CATALYST FOR NUTRITIONAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
Chitekwe village is one of the villages in Group Village Headman Mindano, Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district targeted under Food assistance for asset creation (FFA). It is located 55km from Zomba district. Every year the area is mostly affected by floods.
A 56 years old Rodger Mabwilira comes from this village and has 3 daughters and 3 sons. He is a beneficiary under FFA which is implemented by Emmanuel International in the district with funding from USAID through World Food Program (WFP). Mabwilira is singing a praising song for his success after obtaining the proceeds from the backyard garden. The project is encouraging beneficiaries to establish backyard gardens in their homes for increased health and increased household income. Through the project, people have been trained to establish backyard gardens (Kitchen gardens) and sanitation structures such as pit ratlines with hand washing facility (Mponda Giya), kitchen, dish racks, and a cloth line. Almost 85% of the beneficiaries in Chitekwe village have translated the knowledge gained and have all the mentioned facilities in their household compounds.
Mabwilira established a backyard garden composed of diversified crops like tomatoes, beans, Chinese, onion, okra jus to mention a few. “This garden really helps my family in so many ways. After the sales from the garden, I bought 2 goats and I ventured into livestock production, I’m also paying school fees for my kid who is at the secondary school. Besides, I bought a radio which helps me listen to farmers’ program to gain more knowledge on improved agriculture production. I am also eating vegetable from the same garden to add the nutrition value to my family” Mabwilira lamented
Reported by: Mervis Banda