Horticulture
Action Lesotho recognises the fundamental necessity of food security to build a healthy, educated society. The Horticulture Programme aims to support families and communities to develop their own projects and guarantee a regular supply of fresh vegetables to the most vulnerable in the community. Since 2021 we have developed a horticultural project with several complementary elements: sack gardens, keyhole gardens, home gardens, market gardens and a research & demonstration centre.
SACK and KEYHOLE GARDENS
If someone doesn’t have a garden, we can provide them with a ‘sack garden’ - a large, upright earth-filled sack that can fit in a small outdoor space. We then give guidance on how to plant and maintain the sack garden, which can provide enough green vegetables for the whole family.
We also build accessible keyhole gardens which are particularly suitable for people who are differently abled.
HOUSEHOLD GARDENS
Household gardens are most suitable for people who already have a small plot of land. Our horticulture team helps the beneficiary to construct four 7 x 1 metre raised beds. The goal is to develop a productive garden that can grow enough green vegetables for an extended family. We provide all the basic hand tools, wheelbarrow and a 25-litre water container. We supply seedlings from our greenhouse, train people on how to nurture plants and properly fertilise the beds though the year, and determine what are the most suitable crops to grow and when. We provide onsite training, weekly information sessions at our horticulture centre plus training on how to preserve any excess seasonal produce.
MARKET GARDENS
The market garden is a similar concept in many ways to the household garden, but it is a larger operation and is designed to be a micro-business. It has a shade net greenhouse and can produce a wider variety of crops. A market garden will the families’ vegetable needs but also has the potential to generate income from the sale of produce. We have run prototypes of this in the community, and they have generated income and successfully created employment.
HORTICULTURE CENTRE
Our own Horticulture Centre will continue its commitment to research and development and continue its extensive production of vegetables, which supplies our own range of humanitarian programmes and also other charitable organisations supporting the poor in the community.
As the largest producer of seedlings in the district we are also a valuable resource to local growers who would normally have great difficulty sourcing healthy seedlings.
FUNDING
These programmes have been able to expand into the wider community thanks to the generous support of the Tralee and Maseru Rotary clubs which enabled us to secure a large grant from Rotary International. This grant is specifically earmarked for horticulture to enable local communities grow their own food. .
GOOD NEWS
Congratulations to our Horticulture Team who won 2nd prize at the Pitso Agricultural Awards in Maseru. They won a hamper of agricultural produce worth 4000 Maloti.
Left to Right below: Makoe, Tatola, Molete, Potso, Thapelo
HELP US BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY