Land still bears fruit decades later
Enterprising gardeners make a living outdoors
LACK of resources and mechanical support has dampened the spirits of dedicated farmers in Sea Cow Lake who want to follow in their forefathers’ footsteps, cultivating the land passed on to them.
Pensioner Siva Gramani, 69, and five other passionate local farmers co-run an eight-hectare community garden, where Gramani has been farming for decades.
His main responsibilities include using his expertise to mentor young farmers on how to grow healthy, beautiful-looking crops.
“Despite being diabetic, I am always on the farm to ensure the crop is taken care of. I teach others using my expertise learnt over the past 50 years.
“I am convinced, had we been afforded enough funding, we could have expanded our farm,” Gramani says.
Despite the shortage of resources, such as tools, the group continues to motivate one another to work hard to feed their families through the fresh produce.
Another farmer, Vikesh Sookdeo, 50, said growing dhania, mint, calabash, methi and green beans has provided them with employment.
The garden has also created jobs for 10 other people from the neighbouring Parlock informal settlement.
But the group says it believes the garden has the potential to produce more vegetables. They have appealed for a sponsor to buy them a tractor.
“Using traditional methods such as a hoe, slasher and panga to clear shrubs before preparing the soil and actually planting the seeds is an exhausting exercise, and it’s also time-consuming. But after all the hard work we enjoy the benefits of supplying our fresh produce to markets,” said Sookdeo.
“The local community also buys from us so we know we are doing the right thing, feeding their families with healthy produce,” he beams. Sookdeo adds that they have stopped growing chillies and cabbage after theft became rife in the area. “Our crops are near the roadside, which means everyone walking on the highway will always be tempted to steal,” he said. Sookdeo prides himself on being able to provide for his wife and two sons through his hard work as a farmer. His passion for farming came from watching his green-fingered mother as she tended her crops and sold the fresh produce in Warwick Avenue morning market in the
the scorching sun, but there are no other alternatives. I have a family to feed. I am grateful for the opportunity because jobs are hard to find,” says Zondi.
When the Sunday Tribune visited the garden on Wednesday afternoon, Zondi and five others were busy preparing the soil for the next crop.