Agriculture
With respect to the 5 640 household food gardens, 132 community food gardens and 43 school food gardens having been established thus far:
(a) How much, on average, does a (i) household, (ii) community and (ii) school food garden cost, (b) how much has this achievement cost to date, (c) what measures are being implemented to ensure that these gardens are sustained and do not become dormant and (d) how many (i) household, (ii) community and (iii) school food gardens are planned for the next financial year?
(a)(i) On average a household garden costs R3300.00 – inclusive of seed, 4 types of seedlings, compost, watering can, hosepipe, spade, fork and R5800.00 for a chicken house with 8-12 point of lay chickens – inclusive of 3-month feed.
(ii) A community garden cost between R50 000 and R200 000 depending on the status of the current infrastructure and size of the land. The normal items that we are funding are family drip irrigation system, grey water filter system, rainwater harvesting tank, gutters, wormery, garden tools, watering can, seed, and 4 types of seedlings, well point and compost.
(iii) A school garden cost between R50 000 and R200 000 depending on the status of the current infrastructure and size of the land. The normal items we are funding are family drip irrigation system, grey water filter system, rainwater harvesting tank, gutters, wormery, garden tools, watering can, seed, and 4 types of seedlings, well point and compost.
(b) Cost to date:
Ilima/letsema Grant (Food Security) - R14’316m
Voted Funds (Priority Jobs) - R6’600m
Voted Funds (Revitalising Communal Gardens) - R10’250m
Voted Funds (Water Security) - R 5’390m
Total - R36’556m
(c) The Department is doing training and demonstrations upfront before any delivery takes place. Furthermore, the Department is doing regular site visits through our extension officers as well as support from NGO’s appointed for training and monitoring household gardens.
(d) Gardens planned for next financial year:
(i) Household gardens - 1800
(ii) Community gardens - 65
(iii) School gardens – 16
These targets are based on available funding for the financial year.
