Sizinda Garden Reaps Bumper Beans Crop

Since the turn of the millennium, the country has experienced devastating droughts due to climate change, resulting in different non-government organisations introducing self-sustaining programmes in impoverished communities to ensure food security and improved income.

Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT)responded to this dire situation by teaching farmers in the community to generate income by producing crops from their gardens.

Instead of using their produce for personal consumption only, the organisation has taught project members how they could develop viable agri-businesses.

As an old English adage says, “Where there is a will there is a way and where the determination is, the way can be found.” This rings true for Sizinda Garden, in Ward 21, where members have found a silver lining in the prevailing economic situation.

From the commercial sector of the garden, the farmers have produced an abundant harvest of sugar beans which has earned them ZW$ 6 783 and R1100.

In an interview with this reporter, the Chairperson for the garden’s commercial sector, Mrs Judith Dube, said this is huge achievement for them.

“We are really happy as farmers as we were not expecting to get this large amount of money and such results actually motivate us to work harder and start on other new projects. With the money that we have now, we will be able to buy seeds for our next project and do some more development in our garden. We really appreciate the support that we are getting from ZDDT and the locals who bought our product,” said Mrs Dube.

Beans are the seeds from flowering plants in the Fabaceae family, are high in protein and are classified as legumes. Several beans grow in pods or capsules that develop from flowers. Other legumes include peas, peanuts, and lentils. Beans are available dry, canned, or frozen and contain amino acids, which are the protein building blocks that the body uses to heal and to make new tissue, such as bone, muscle, hair, skin, and blood. Protein is an essential nutrient for healthy bodies.