Gardening gogos are beating poverty

Without farming, these families would starve. By Siboniso Mngadi

IF not for the small-scale farming operation run by three grandmothers in Savannah Park, their families would be starving.

In spite of their advanced ages, Teresa Mpanza, Nomathemba Manyoni and Anah Mzobe persist and are able to care for their families.

“We are able to put food on the table. We bring hope to orphans and the destitute by selling (our produce) at a low price,” Mzobe said.

The west Durban community was faced with a number of challenges, ranging from a growing population to an increase in unemployment. They said urban agriculture was one of the best strategies for overcoming poverty and food insecurity.

Mzobe said the responsibility for providing food and welfare to the household was shouldered by the women in most communities.

The three women have been growing crops since they were young.

Fifteen years ago they transformed the 1.8 hectare plot adjacent to Mpanza’s home. Their garden is located alongside a stream, which helps with the irrigation of their crops.

The three were sponsored with five Jojo tanks to sustain their crops during the drought.

Although farming requires energy and consistent effort, the gogos love working together and routinely share jokes while out in the baking sun.

They grow bananas, mangos, peaches, sugar beans and soya beans. Mpanza said the soya beans were in demand as they were high in protein. She said soya had become the most widely cultivated legume in the province.

They also produce spinach, cabbage, amadumbe, chillies, tomatoes and seasonal herbs, which they sell to the community.

They were worried that the community would always want to buy their produce at lower prices than they were charging.

Mpanza said since they had been farming for the past 15 years, they had built relationships with other farmers. At least once a month they attend smallscale farming workshops at the Mariannhill Institute for Farming to keep up with new farming techniques. They collect manure from livestock farmers in Kwandengezi to fertilise their garden.

Mpanza, 77, who lives with her son and four grandchildren, said the farm had had a huge impact on their lives.

“We generate income to add to our grants. Without farming life would have been tough. I have managed to send my grandchildren to school and keep them well fed,” she said.

Mpanza has also shared her expertise with other farmers.

Mzobe, 73, lives with her husband, Mandlethu, and has been farming since 2009, when her daughter left her to fend for her five children. The family relies on social welfare grants, including her pension. “Women generally play a significant role in urban agricultural production. In spite of their roles, women farmers face a number of challenges that affect their increased production in the urban areas,” said Mzobe.

“For women producers, forming co-operatives offers networks of support and solidarity that allow us to grow our social capital and improve our self-reliance.”

Manyoni, 67, said her life changed when doctors advised her to eat more vegetables. “I cook the sugar beans instead of meat. I know my grandchildren do not like it that much. I wish more people could join us to fight unemployment,” she said.

And when they’re not farming, they can often be found sewing and playing sport.

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