Categories: African Essence

Reaping gold through urban farming

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 03:02 pm

Sustainable urban agriculture and urban food systems have swiftly moved from being a fringe interest to attracting the attention of many in cities and towns.

Unlike in recent years when farming was mostly for rural communities, urbanites have realised gold in the industry.

With formal employment hard to come by, graduates end up roaming the streets, instead of thinking of other ways of earning a living.

What most people do not realise is that Western forms of education are not the only key to success, as loads of money lie idle in the informal sector.

The perception that the formal sector is the primary source of employment is completely out of step with reality.

An informal sector, consisting of vendors, informal markets, home-based businesses as well as urban agriculture which exist alongside the formal sector would be the key to beat economic challenges.

The formal urban food supply system is made unaffordable and inaccessible to the poor because of low incomes and rising food prices which are straining citizens’ pockets.

Urban agriculture comes in as a poverty reduction strategy when families cannot provide enough, having to grow for own consumption and for sale.

Raising fresh fruits, vegetables, and some animal products near consumers in urban areas can improve local food security and nutrition, especially for under-served communities.

City-based farmers cultivate small pieces of urban land that provide food security for their families.

Some people have found hustling a success in the world of urban farming.

Ngoni Bhamu, who lives in Westlea, Harare, has established his business of growing and selling seedlings at his home.

The 56-year-old man has farmed the plot for 10 years now.

“I started growing vegetables and fruits, but I later realised there was much more in seedlings as a lot of customers asked for them,” he said.

Bhamu has utilised the open space opposite his homestead, and made his source of income.

Seedlings vary from tomatoes, rape, spinach, covo, chomolia, king onions, sweet potatoes and sugarloaf, neatly arranged into seven beds.

Some of the problems he faces include water, which is hardly available as Harare City Council does not abide by its regulations.

“To address the issue of water, I use my well, but around October, it dries up, so I have to find other means to water my garden,” said Bhamu.

He has established his business in such a way that customers come to his home to buy seedlings.

In the event that there are not enough customers, he sells his seedlings at Gazebo Mall in the area.

His customer base mostly consists of gardeners, farmers and homesteads.

They depend on the reliable and stable availability of food products, as well as affordable and convenient access to them.

“The current economic situation does not want people who sit and watch, but those who employ themselves, and be the employer that others are waiting for,” said Bhamu.

“With the money I get from farming, I take care of my family, thereby ensuring food security.”

Each of the seven beds he has on the piece of land, when sold out gives him between US$40 and US$50, but there are times when the seedlings do not sell out.

“I do not run a loss when stock does not sell. Because I have a family to feed, I simply grow the seedlings into vegetables,” he said.

But the problem he faces is trying to convince customers of the advantages of underground seeds as compared to those grown in trays.

Albert Echetah

Recent Posts

Africa and GCC Trade Doubles to $121 Billion

Trade between African and GCC countries stands at $ 121 billion in 2023, double of what it was in 2016.…

December 21, 2024

Families in Mayotte rebuilding their homes complain of lack of help

Family members struggling after one week after  of Cyclone Chido ripped through the French island territory of Mayotte expressed helplessness…

December 21, 2024

Ethiopian PM Inaugurates UAE-Funded Orphanage in Oromia

The United Arab Emirates has launched its orphanage project in Ethiopia's Oromia region on the orders of President Sheikh Mohamed…

December 21, 2024

A Rising Femicide Threat, Kenya’s Call to End Gender Based Violence

In just four months, 100 women have been killed, the majority by males they knew including spouses. Prime Cabinet Secretary…

December 20, 2024

Actor C Confion has passed away

The Ghanaian entertainment industry is in deep mourning following the sudden death of Bright Owusu, better known as C Confion.…

December 20, 2024

South Africa: 512 Accident Deaths and 941 Arrested for Drunk Driving Just on December Month

Since the beginning of December more than five hundred people have lost their lives on the nation's highways. Barbara Creecy,…

December 19, 2024

This website uses cookies.