Urban farming a low hanging fruit

URBANITES have been urged to take advantage of the ongoing lockdown to venture into urban farming and ensure household food security.

Due to restrictions on movement, people are now spending more time at home.

This has resulted in a sharp increase in people partaking in agricultural activities, especially horticulture and poultry.

An agricultural expert, Mr Farai Mafuwe said urban agriculture is a low hanging fruit that is yet to be fully tapped into, adding that it has the potential to address food deficit challenges.

He added that urbanites with ample space can even venture into market gardening.

“The market for horticultural produce is never saturated as these are consumed every day. Neighbours and workmates are your market. You also do not need to go to the marketplace to sell your produce as people will come to your home to buy fresh produce from the garden. The clever ones are utilising this period to work in their backyards and plots close to their homes,” said Mr Mafuwe.

“Urban agriculture helps cities and towns to sustain themselves in the provision of food, especially horticulture produce. You do not need huge spaces of land to grow vegetables for your own family. When people are spending more time at their homes, this is the best time to seriously take up horticulture and poultry.

“People can produce their own vegetables, eggs, chicken and rabbits at home. Those with big yards can do potatoes. Urban agriculture can be done profitably. However, borehole water is ideal for this,” he said.

Mrs Varaidzo Nyagumbo of Castle Base in Rusape is conducting urban agriculture and is reaping huge rewards from her horticulture and poultry.

Since the beginning of the lockdown, she has been working from home and this has allowed her to explore means and ways to supplement her income from her formal job.

Mrs Nyagumbo has 1 000 tomato plants, king onions, lettuce and has been producing 100 chickens after every six weeks. She said she is getting meaningful returns from her venture and encouraged others to take urban farming seriously.

“When the lockdown, I decided to venture into commercial gardening. I am expecting five tonnes of tomatoes from my backyard,” said Mrs Nyagumbo.