New gardening techniques

VILLAGERS in the Omusati Region were introduced to a special gardening method during two workshops in the Outapi and Ruacana constituencies recently.

These workshops were organised jointly by the German Development Service (DED), the German Technical Cooperation agency GTZ and their partners, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and the Omusati Regional Council. The aim was to provide rural people with knowledge about the importance of healthy nutrition, healthy living and gardening methods.Special attention was given to people living with HIV-AIDS.Nutrition is a crucial factor in delaying the onset of AIDS and people were invited to learn more about easy methods to stay healthy and live longer so that they can take care of their own lives and those of their families.People were taught to establish trench gardens to grow vegetables in small spaces, with very little effort and during the whole year.A special technique that prevents the water in the soil from evaporating makes it possible to maintain the garden on only two litres of water a week.This becomes especially important in areas in which people regularly face droughts.Together with the facilitators, participants set up a sample bed for demonstration purposes.In addition, participating extension officers from the Agriculture Ministry and members of support groups were trained and will serve as resource people.As part of the training, participants were provided with seeds and advised on how they can grow seedlings and establish a system to secure their supply.The aim was to provide rural people with knowledge about the importance of healthy nutrition, healthy living and gardening methods.Special attention was given to people living with HIV-AIDS.Nutrition is a crucial factor in delaying the onset of AIDS and people were invited to learn more about easy methods to stay healthy and live longer so that they can take care of their own lives and those of their families.People were taught to establish trench gardens to grow vegetables in small spaces, with very little effort and during the whole year.A special technique that prevents the water in the soil from evaporating makes it possible to maintain the garden on only two litres of water a week.This becomes especially important in areas in which people regularly face droughts.Together with the facilitators, participants set up a sample bed for demonstration purposes.In addition, participating extension officers from the Agriculture Ministry and members of support groups were trained and will serve as resource people.As part of the training, participants were provided with seeds and advised on how they can grow seedlings and establish a system to secure their supply.