Riverside View micro farmers build their own nursery to grow vegetable seedlings

In their quest to eradicate hunger and help empower local micro farmers, Diepsloot Youth Programme donated fencing material, fertilisers and seeds to Riverside View microfarmers to start their nursery.

Director at Diepsloot Youth Programme Sophy Tlhabadira said her organisation has sponsored more than 500 individual micro farmers to start their own vegetables gardens to feed their families in Diepsloot and Riverside View.

“After successfully donating almost 30 000 food parcels which were calculated to feed local families for four weeks, we decided to stop giving beneficiaries food parcels and teach them how to produce food for themselves. Our main aim is to combat hunger while instilling dignity on our people through the food security programme,” she said.

Tlhabadira said the nursery, which is located next to the Riverside View microfarming area, will help support and supply local microfarmers with seedlings.

“We are building a nursery that will support the Riverside View microfarmers with seedlings. The plan is to also assist them in selling on a bigger scale in the future,” Tlhabadira said.

A 63-year-old local microfarmer who is also part of the team working at the nursery, Jacobeth Mamabolo, said she hopes the nursery will help them as local farmers get seedlings for their gardens. “I believe this nursery will help inspire many people to start doing vegetable gardening. As an elder and pensioner I don’t have much to do during the day and I spend most of my time tilling the soil and growing vegetables. I am excited to be part of the team of farmers that will be planting seedlings and I can assure you that this will be a success story,” Mamabolo said.

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