Farming is not for the faint-hearted. This is the sentiment of Welcome Sandlana (63). “You need to be strong and persevere.”
Sandlana is one of the co-founders of Tsuga Food Garden at Tsuga Nursery in Samora Machel. He said they started the garden in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic after witnessing people’s living conditions in many communities.
He said life was not easy as some people lost their jobs due to retrenchments.
Sandlana said they decided to start the garden after they realised that the land in the nursery was not being used.
“It was not easy then. So, instead of folding our arms and waiting for the government to spoon-feed us, we decided to take the initiative and formed the group and start our food garden,” said Sandlana.
He said they started as four individuals. They used money from their pockets. “Farming is not easy because it needs a lot of work. And if you are in for cash you won’t make it. You must love what you are doing,” he stated.
Sandlana added that they aimed to sell their produce and to also feed their families.
However, it has not been all smooth sailing. “We thought it would be easy but is getting worse every day. We need equipment. We have a challenge of insects eating our plants. We have to go miles to get manure from the farm near Siqalo informal settlement. And all of that has a negative impact on our production. It’s difficult to sell because they are bad,” he explained.
One of the co-founders Eunice Teketa appealed to anyone who could assist them with the equipment to come forward.
The farmers currently sell their produce in the community. “Our prices range from R5 to R15. We also need young people to come and join us so that when we retire we leave them,” she urged.
Some of the vegetables that are planted are cabbage, carrots, spring onion, onion, and lettuce.