April 2012.indd - Ministry of Agriculture

Vegetables inFisheryendowedareaArticle: France BegenselPhotos: Aggripah willieAtraditional canoe ridethrough the vast waters ofthe Okavango Delta takesone to patterns of small islandshidden in huge tall trees. Throughdense reeds and water lillies, the oldbrown canoes manoeuvres into alarge opening. Where the Agrinewsteam disembarked and proceededto high fenced field leading the waythrough shrubs and tall grasses isKadizora Dimbo, 65 of Tsaa landsin Gunotsoga.There spreading in front of us arevegetables plots of different sizesand shapes. Different crops, spinach,tomatoes, green chillies, onions,rape, chomolia, green pepper andcarrots at different stages of growth.“I have never worked in my life,but I have always found ways ofsurviving, I am currently involvedin dryland and horticultural farming.He discloses that with half a hectarefield under cultivation, he is ableto produce enough vegetables tosustain his family and sell to hisvillage and neighbouring ones.He is quick to point out that withthe proceeds, he has been able tochannel some money into drylandfarming. Dimbo can also pay for hischildren’s school fees and uniforms.Above all, he says vegetables make avery good diet. “They help improvethe immune system, therefore onewould always be healthy.Besides the stated vegetables, healso grows chillies which is verygood in deterring elephants fromdestroying the fields.Dimbo says that elephants area common and regular source ofdestruction, the reason he plantschillies. He says to stop elephantsgetting into one’s fields one shouldtake chillies, mix it with used oil/diesel. He adds that one then has totake discarded pieces of cloth, dip/soak them in the mixture and hangon the fence around the field. Hereveals that the odour is so strongthat it will keep one sneezing. “ Thissmell has also the same effects onelephants as in human beings.” Headds that it would then take a longtime for elephants to come to yourfield and destroy ones crops.Dimbo says, water has never beena problem since he ventured intohorticulture. “Here in Ngamilandwe have ever increasing sourcesof water from the Okavango riverKadizora Dimbo preparing a plot for seedlingsand delta.” He mentions thoughthat aphids sometimes attack hisvegetables, but he always controlsthem with insecticides and otherchemicals. He says birds are alsoa menace to tomatoes and rape butreveals that he spends the better partof the day guarding against them.Although Dimbo’s farm is inthe middle of water, he neverexperiences transporting problems.He uses his traditional mokoro totravel between his village and theproject.Since he ventured into horticulture,his life has changed for the betterbecause he now afford luxuries thatwere only a dream. He mentionedthough that he is not rich butcomfortable with what he has.An hour later, the traditionalmokoro snakes back the some routeto drop the Agrinews team. For theteam it is quite an experience ofboth learning from Dimbo about hislivelihood. Horticulture a source ofliving in a fish infested area, its allabout choice and love for it.April 2012 12