By Arasha Soila
Kajiado County, Kenya: Meet Tuscillah Maoto, tending to her kitchen garden. Maoto lives in a rental space of one-roomed houses. She does not own the land but is still able to practice vertical farming after her landlord agreed to lend her a small space.
Maoto lives at Kandisi area, Ongata Rongai in Kajiado North County. This place is known for erratic rainfall patterns, desert vegetation, and a seasonal river.
Maoto is among women who have adopted climate-smart techniques for farming. The mother of two has been practicing vertical farming for the last two years. She started producing her own vegetables when she was still pregnant as her blood levels were very low. She confides that she borrowed the idea from her sister who was also practicing sack farming.
She has learned to use sacks, tires, and jerricans to grow her vegetables. Tuscillah utilizes her resources to grow a variety of vegetables like African Nightshade (manage), amaranth (terere), nderema, pumpkin leaves, and onions in her garden which are consumed by her family.
The innovative farmer then goes ahead and explains how she prepares and sets up her garden. “I cut the 20kg sacks into half, then add soil to them. The soil is composed of kitchen waste which is vegetable and fruit peelings. This kitchen waste adds nutrients to the soil,” she says. She then continues by stating that she also adds holes on the sides of the sacks to allow circulation of air and proper drainage of water. Tuscillah does the same preparation in the tires and jerricans where she has planted her onions.
Amazed at the flourishing, thriving climbing plant with heart-shaped leaves, I am curious to know how she grows them. “This is nderema, I plant the vines in the soil. Using wooden sticks, I support the vines which twine as they climb on the wall,” she responds. The vegetable farmer says that she feeds her family with these vegetables. “My one-year-old twins can’t consume sukuma wiki yet, instead I prepare well the soft vegetables which are also very nutritious in their bodies,” she assures.
Additionally, Maoto says that nderema leaves are very rich in iron and Vitamin A. “Like I stated earlier, when I was still pregnant my blood levels were very low. Consuming nderema leaves, boosted the formation of my red blood cells,” she affirms. Nderema also improves digestion, helps fight infections, regulates and controls blood pressure, and reduces bad cholesterol among other health benefits.
Vertical farming has turned into a thrilling venture for her as management of the garden is also less costly. The vegetable farmer points out that, she prefers growing traditional vegetables because they require very little maintenance. “During the rainy season, I harvest rainwater from the iron sheets. I then use the water to irrigate my vegetables,” she notes. Tuscillah reveals that during the dry season, she fetches water from the seasonal river and uses it. She further says that after doing her house chores, she also re-uses that water to irrigate the vegetables as long as it is not soapy water. “Water is an expensive commodity around here. A 20-liter jerrican goes for Ksh 10-12, so one has to be innovative on how to sustain the vegetables,” she adds.
To control pests from attacking her vegetables, Tuscillah uses ash instead of using chemical pesticides. She sprinkles wood ash in her kitchen garden which wards off pests. Wood ash is known to repel insects, slugs, and snails. Her husband, Mr. Benard, who is supportive of her initiative helps her by fencing the kitchen garden by installing mosquito nets all around to keep off birds from destroying the vegetables.
Once in a while when her garden is bountiful, she packages the vegetables and sells them to her neighbors for a small price of Ksh 10. “Sometimes when the vegetables are a lot I sell them instead of letting them go to waste. With the little I get I am able to meet basic needs for my family,” Tuscillah adds.
The vegetable farmer urges other women from her neighborhood to embrace the idea of vertical farming to curb malnutrition and hunger amidst climate change effects.
