HGA GROW
BACKGROUND
Many of the agricultural projects that formed the basis for the establishment of HGA still exist today while the commercial farming community continues to extend assistance to those within their sphere of influence and so the number of projects continues to grow (Read about Brookside Farm). Still being an organisation in its infancy and with limited capacity we have however had to decide where feel we can have the biggest impact in our region and have chosen to focus on food security at the rural household level.
The vehicle with which to do this has been a project that one of our Directors, Dougie Strachan, started in 2009. Dougie was approached by a staff member for assistance in establishing her home garden and what ensued was a two year food security study based on agro-ecological cultivation techniques which was the catalyst for a project that now involves multiple communities between Highflats and Umzimkhulu. The success of the project is in its simplicity where basic cultivation techniques are taught and the skills passed on from household to household through farmer-to-farmer extension.
SUCCESSES
A striking feature of this programme are the innovative methods and tools being employed to address the barriers to entry for households wanting to get involved in agriculture and in the process, catalysing job creation in our communities.
Avoiding reliance on mechanisation
Through precision planting by hand and the use of innovatively designed implements to make the task easier.
In most rural settings, tractors and their accompanying implements are few and far between and where they can be found they are generally in varying states of disrepair. The hire thereof is also costly and there is a waiting list so land preparation and planting is seldom done on time.
The planting method that Dougie teaches removes dependency on mechanisation and is a precise approach using rope marked with the planting intervals and ensures maximum yield is attainable on the land available. Although the labour demands for this scale of agriculture can typically be met by the household, cultivating by hand is strenuous work and unfortunately the status quo in these areas is that it is often elderly females doing the bulk of the work which for some is unsustainable over a long period.
In response to this issue Dougie has through trial and error, designed a fork that allows one to put their full weight on the implement to penetrate the soil and then has two long arms which allow for leverage to loosen the soil which makes the job of digging planting pits much easier for the elderly and frail. The implement is available for hire for a nominal fee within the community.
Improving access to inputs
For residents of remote rural areas just the cost of travel to purchase inputs is a stumbling block to involvement let alone knowing which seed and fertilizer is best suited for your area. Dougie has been facilitating access to inputs for several years by delivering the seed and fertilizer to site which is best suited to the area.
From there a community member resells the inputs and is remunerated through a small mark-up.
Although our focus is on improving food security at the rural household level, the end goal is to see these households develop in their ability to cultivate good produce and ultimately be in a position to be able to contribute to the local economy through the sale thereof.
