LET’S TALK ABOUT HOME GARDENS
For
centuries in Africa, home gardens was an important part of
not only our agricultural landscape
but also our cultural
and social landscape. It was nurtured not only by farmers but also
the house wife, the children
and even residents
in villages and towns.
It was important not just because it was a major source of vegetables but equally it was also a
source of herbs, spices, an excellent hobby and it even
lays claim to a certain
therapeutic quality. In
the last two and half decades or so, home gardens was almost going into
extinction and the few people who keep them are regarded as “old school”. This
is primarily because of the massive rural-urban migration in search of
“opportunity” and the belief of many that if they make money they would rather
buy their groceries than keep a home garden.
However,
in recent years its importance is being rediscovered not only as a source of vegetables
but also as being important for supplementary nutrition and additional
income.
If you do a survey
today to find out how many households have any form of garden that cater for
their vegetable needs, which by the way happens to be a vital source of
supplementary nutrition, you will discover that the backyard gardens which most households back in the days used to maintain for a regular
supply of vegetables for their families are fast vanishing.
Most urban
households have no backyard garden and what this means in practical terms is
that only families that could afford purchasing them from the market had
vegetables and fruits as part of their regular diet. This is one
of the reasons behind the high malnutrition of the family today.
The shrinkage of home gardens particularly
in Nigeria has led the country to facing serious malnutrition problems at both
ends of the spectrum. On one end, Nigeria still struggle with under-nutrition
and children who are not growing well. At the other end of the spectrum, a large number of adults are battling with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis, hypertension etc. Studies reveal that 4 out of 10 chronic diseases can be linked to what is called the modern diet.
IMPORTANCE OF HOME GARDENS
1. Home
gardens can arrest
the trend of declining diversity of vegetables and
lead to greater local diversity
and local consumption of vegetables. We stand the
chance of completely losing our indigenous seeds and become slaves to foreign
seed companies if we don’t revive home gardens. Don’t forget this: whoever
controls the seed controls the food supply and whoever controls the food supply
controls the future.
2.
We can cultivate vegetables that form an
important source of supplementary nutrition.
3. Income
can be increased due to decrease of expenses in the purchase of vegetables.
In other words, another way to increase your income is to reduce your household
expenses particularly on essentials such as vegetables. This can be achieved by
having a home garden.
4. Home gardens
has been known for ages as a vital source of herbs, which is the first pharmacy people visit whenever
there is a health challenge. Home garden is therefore important for primary health
care and also results
in savings on health related expenses.
5. Supplementary income is also possible to a
small extent through the sale of vegetables and production and sale of
vegetable seeds. Home garden is a form of home-based business that can provide
additional income urban households.
CONCLUSION
Simple guidelines for a well-balanced nutritional diet
recommends at least two and a half cups of vegetables and two cups of fruits each day. How many people do
meet these recommended daily allowance? For those who can afford to buy their
fruits and vegetables from the regular market to meet the recommended daily
allowance, are you aware of what is included (and maybe what is not included)
in the cultivation of the vegetables and fruits that you buy? Except you are
buying strictly from an organic source, you may be at risk of ingesting
dangerous chemicals used to grow these foods. The growing malnutrition among
children and the increasing rate of terminal diseases among adults and the
danger of ingesting vegetables and fruits grown with chemicals can be abated or
even avoided. Home gardens
can play a crucial
role to combat this menace.
