“I use the money I get from the vegetable sales to buy groceries and kitchen utensils for the household, I also pay fees for my granddaughter who is in grade 6 and aspires to be pilot in the near future”
Ruth Bajila
As the African sun beats at high temperatures some people seek refuge under the shade of the local Mopane tree but not Ruth Bajila a 63-year-old farmer. She works tirelessly in her garden as she cultivates and irrigates her vegetable plot as she anticipates a good harvest.
Ruth has been a member of Zimiseleni nutrition garden in ward 14 Ndiweni village. The garden’s proceeds have enabled Ruth and her husband to take their children through school.
A variety of crops are grown at the garden, these include choumoellier (kale), carrots, tomato, butternut, and maize. The market for the produce is readily available. Ruth sells her produce at Kezi Shopping Centre which is just 2km away. The sales are good.
“I use the money I get from the vegetable sales to buy groceries and kitchen utensils for the household, I also pay fees for my granddaughter who is in grade 6 and aspires to be pilot in the near future”.
Improvements made by Fambidzanai through the installation of solar powered irrigation system have enabled Mrs. Bajila and other 22 members of the garden to increase hectarage and eased the irrigation process as they now use hosepipes to irrigate unlike the bucket system they used long ago.
Crop diversity and yields have also improved resulting in higher incomes.
As age is quickly catching up with Bajila, she wishes to train her children and grandchildren to one day take over her piece of land and use it effectively as she has done all these years.
This year she has plans to save and buy a wheelbarrow from the vegetable sales.
