ABALIMI BEZEKHAYA, THE BASKET OF FOOD THAT KEEPS ON GIVING IN KHAYELITSHA

Abalimi Bezekhaya community garden

By Lesego Ranchu

• Abalami Bezekhaya, a voluntary organisation based in the Western Cape township of Khayelitsha, assists township farmers set up home and community gardens as part of its campaign to combat food insecurity and poverty.
• The organisation, which is supported by the National Development Agency, provides agricultural training as well as products such as seeds and compost to support the micro-farmers.
• It has also set up a market at Harvest of Hope, where the micro-farmers can sell their surplus produce and generate extra income.

The customers, farmers and community of Khayelitsha have lauded the agricultural work done in Khayelitsha by community organisation Abalami Bezekhaya.

A voluntary organisation established in 1982, Abalami Bezekhaya combats poverty by growing food sustainably using organic methods.

It also assists residents to set up home and community gardens, helping the farmers run micro farms. The organisation helps the farmers in planning production, maintaining the soil, planning harvests, access to seeds and seedlings, transporting the vegetables and financial services.

“I grew up and live in Khayelitsha,” says Alice Minnie. “Four years ago, I googled a nursery close to my home and Abalimi Bezekhaya popped up. I have been buying here since. The products are fresh, and the service is great. I love that all their produce is organic too.”

Minnie used to travel to Somerset-West to buy seedlings. “I now save on transport and get the products I need right at my doorstep. Their compost and fertiliser are really great for the soil, and I have a healthy and productive garden at home. Gardening is an activity I now enjoy very much,” Minnie says.

Abalimi Bezekhaya began as a greening project, planting trees in Khayelitsha, which had no trees at the time. It developed into a food garden for the community, as the organisation realised people could not plant trees on a hungry stomach.

Later, home gardens were introduced for providing nourishing food for consumption.

Today, the organisation has 52 community gardens and over 3 000 household gardens feeding families and generating incomes.

“We have now even established a market for our home farmers at Harvest of Hope,” says Abalimi Bezekhaya’s project manager Babalwa Mpayipeli.

“Harvest of Hope markets and sells the vegetables on behalf of the farmers within all our townships, from Khayelitsha through to Nyanga. That way our farmers not only have enough to eat but their surplus can be sold for an income.”

She explains that the crops are grown according to a seasonal demand plan. In that way the farmers grow vegetables and herbs that are in demand, ensuring a constant supply of income generation.

“We provide training at very affordable rates, thanks to our contributors, who fund and subsidise the training and start-up food garden packs,” she says.