17 Mar 2015

Twenty-six-year-old Orebotse Ngaka of Kweneng village in the Kweneng District is one of the beneficiaries of government’s poverty eradication programme, and hers is a garden project specialising in spinach and rape.

Ms Ngaka says in an interview that with time and patience, the project can yield good returns. Being an orphan herself who takes care of her four siblings, she believes the project has helped her to give them proper care.

She says after selling some of her produce to individuals in the village, whatever vegetables remain she would take them home for a balanced diet for the family; hence they all are healthy. Also, she has opened an account at the post office to make some savings.

Ms Ngaka is actually part of the village’s bigger garden project called Kweneng Community Garden backed by government in its drive to save people from abject poverty. 

That the project is in Kweneng village is understandable because this is one of the seven remotest settlements in Kweneng District, and without any activity of any economic value, most people in these settlements depend entirely on government handouts. 

 Accessing services from this village is not easy unless one traverses the rough terrain to Lentsweletau - the nearest economic and commercial hub - for medical assistance, shopping and various government services.  Getting a ride back home is quite as difficult and it can take half a day to get one but such is life in rural Kweneng. 

 Difficult as it may sound, life must go on, and sometimes it can be exciting if one takes advantage of the abundant opportunities. Also, the fact that services in the village are limited can mean a lot to an open minded person; hence the birth of Kweneng Community Garden.

Established in December 2013, the garden breathed some life into the village; not only did the venture bring some semblance of an economic activity, it also brought in a culture of autonomy among beneficiaries and slowly but surely broke the long spell of dependence on government.

As they say, Rome was not built in one day hence one can confidently say the garden is a vehicle for transforming the lives of people as evidenced by the fact that  its beneficiaries have now learnt to be resourceful as dividends start trickling in.

The garden is on a fenced six-hectare piece of land consisting of six small ones.  Each small garden is covered with a net and it is watered through a drip system.

 The local community development officer, Ms Sylvia Sera, says Kweneng District Council chose the area because it was well secured and that there was a nearby borehole that supplied water for the project. Initially, the project started with six beneficiaries; all women who showed interest in backyard gardening.  

However, one of them quit but the remaining five are still together, explains Ms Sera.  

She says the purpose of the project is to train beneficiaries in vegetable production until they reach a level where they can be self-sufficient, ultimately graduating from Ipelegeng and being able to create employment for themselves and others.

  She says with their savings, they can be able to earn salaries on a monthly basis.

“Pests are their biggest challenge, particularly nematodes and red spider mites, which are a serious threat to their crops,” observes Ms Sera, adding that, however, extension officers regularly fumigated the gardens. Another gardener, Ms Obusitse Kgama, 36, says apart from pests, the project is good, particularly given the positive response from the market.  

However, she says they sometimes have problems transporting their produce to the market and would incur loses if they did not get assistance immediately. 

Apart from that, she is happy with everything and hopeful that if they put in more effort, the project will bring huge returns.  

Ms Mpulanyana Lebakeng, 52, is yet another partner. She praises government for the project, saying she did not envision herself quitting should the going get tough.  

She says being a widow meant that she is the head of her family, which includes the tough role of raising a child with disability.

Initially, Ms Lebakeng planted beetroots and carrots but hit a snagl.  

However, she was not discouraged but instead planted spinach, green pepper and tomatoes and managed to sell them to make money.

She says the project has brought stability in her life because when she started she was very ill but now her health and dignity have been restored.  

“I can now make some money for myself; I am so delighted and thank government,” says an excited Ms Lebakeng. ENDS