Cultivation

Mosamedi Molin

Mosamedi Molin
Limpopo province
Fetakgomo Tubatse Municipality
Mogabane village
20th June 2024
Cultivation
As the community of Mogabane, we are unable to plant crops because we don’t have
enough water to do so. Many households have made their food gardens in their backyards,
but it is still difficult to produce fresh vegetables because they lack clean water. Some have
managed to drill water in their yards but some didn’t
They have to get water from the communal taps, which everyone in the community goes to.
It is a pity because the tap water isn’t enough for us as a community. Some of the crops lack
water and they die. The community of Mogabane tried to engage with Fetakgomo
municipality to at least extend the pipes and increase the taps of water. They promised that
they would do so, but until today they haven’t. who don’t have water in their yards decided to go to the rivers to get some water.
Some hire donkey carts so that they can be able to irrigate their gardens. We use water
every day for cleaning, cooking, irrigation, and also drinking. This issue affects everyone in
the community because we use water all of us.
I asked my neighbors about how they make it to the point that they reap so many
vegetables. She mentioned that even though it is tough for them to get clean water for
irrigation, they try their best to go and fetch water from the rivers. When they have some
money, they hire a donkey cart or buy 25 liters with R3.
They say they are motivated and happy with their gardens because it helps them a
lot. They don’t buy onions, tomatoes, carrots, and cabbage anymore.
We can also alleviate poverty by increasing the productivity of small-scale farms and improving their access to the market, creating jobs, especially for the youth because they will
be busy in their gardens. People have to learn and know that it is important for them to have
gardens in their homes. It helps a lot because it also saves money, you can’t buy
tomatoes, onions, etc while you plant in your gardens even though there isn’t enough
water in our community.