How can you grow vegetables when you have little land? The solution: set up pyramid-shaped vegetable gardens (cone-gardens). This is a very efficient way of farming. MTAA has embraced this successful initiative.
Although the climate in Kakamega County is favorable for vegetable cultivation, millions of shillings worth of vegetables are imported annually from neighboring counties. It is much more beneficial to grow the vegetables yourself for domestic and commercial consumption. On the cone-gardens, local vegetables can be planted that are easy to get and require minimal effort.
MTAA hopes in the future to secure a piece of land next to the office to set up demonstration cone-gardens. If this form of vegetable growing becomes popular, it could lead to financial empowerment and economic independence, the pillars for a secure livelihood.
The cone-gardens received a strong boost through the efforts of Kenyan student Petronila Abuko at the Davidson College Center for Civic Engagement (USA). With financial support from her program, she involved MTAA youth in this project. Ten gardens were created, seven temporarily on private property and three with vulnerable families. However, not only vegetables were grown by these youngsters. There were also discussions about the design of MTAA, gender-based violence and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Youth represents MTAA’s greatest hope for a healthier and better future. The goal is for more than 100 youths in the region to have cone-gardens at home by the end of 2024.
Youngsters amidst their cone-gardens