KZN churches partner for food production

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has joined hands with interdenominational churches in the province to launch the One Church One Garden programme. Religious and traditional leaders gathered at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Maphumulo on the KZN North Coast to witness the first church garden under the programme take shape.

According to agriculture minister Super Zuma, the One Church One Garden initiative followed the One Home One Garden programme active in most areas of KZN.

The One Church One Garden scheme was designed to encourage churches to develop a culture of producing food for themselves and disadvantaged church members, he explained.

According to the MEC, a needs assessment exercise would be conducted to determine the unique needs of each church, and they would then be provided with farming implements, vegetable seeds and seedlings, extension services and thorough training.

Depending on land and space available, churches would either start backyard or tactical gardens in the event that space was extremely limited.

Additionally, roof-top gardens were highly recommended, as well as vertical farms. Maphumulo Local Municipality Mayor Zibuyisile Dlamini-Khuzwayo said she was grateful for the opportunity to gather all denominations under one roof.

According to the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the project would mainly target women, child-headed households, the disabled and the youth.

“Our programme will unite our religious communities and we are grateful to all religious leaders for wanting to take this journey with us.

“We are ready to equip all churches with what is required to get the vegetable gardens started.

“In a few months, we want to see families eating from our soil,” said Zuma. –