Crop production is in the hearts of Phumula elderly farmers
The team of elderly farmers describes farming as a passion which they cannot trade anything for.
WESSELTON – Elderly farmers from Phumula spent some time recently to manoeuvre their communal garden to ensure that they grow enough crops.
The team, which consist of pensioners, said they founded Siza uMakhelwane Cooperation in 1997 with the intention of turning the overgrown area into a safe space while earning a living and doing what they love.
Through their headwork and commitment to farming, they were able to transform the area into an attractive vegetable plot, leaving residents with little choice but to compliment and purchase the crops as they pass by.
According to the team’s chairperson, Maria Nkosi (80), farming is a calling for them since it enables them to always look forward to planting different crops as well as challenging them to come up with solutions to obstacles they face when working in the garden.
Depending on seasons, the garden produce and sell a variety of crops, including cabbage, beetroot, spinach, coriander, broccoli, eggplant and cauliflower.
“We love farming, because no one can take away these skills from us. When we are in the garden, we get to be ourselves and also exercise and socialise. This is also a way of keeping healthy, rather than staying locked up in our homes and not doing anything. What makes us want to grow the garden even more is that we are able to get fresh crops at home and put food on the table for our families,” Nkosi said.
She said they sell the crops to residents and local business owners.
“The support we have received from the community is overwhelming. Some residents come here to buy from us and then go and sell in the neighbourhood. This means we are helping people earn a living, especially with the increasing rate of unemployment.”
The garden also has a portion allocated as the youth garden, where young people from the area come and learn how to cultivate vegetables and learn about the value of agriculture.
“Young people should not be excluded from farming. We aim to continue encouraging them to take this skill serious, especially those who have an underlying passion for agriculture. Soon they will take the reins from us and continue with this farming journey.”
The team faces a variety of difficulties, such as theft, since their garden is located closer to residential areas, and access to water, as they currently draw water from a well that is slowly drying up.
Read the complete article in Highvelder newspaper.
