Hoachanas’ veggie gardens revolutionise fight against hunger
Sowing powerful seeds of change
In a region where malnutrition has left deep scars, Hoachanas in the Hardap region is as an exception.
While the region recorded more than 2 800 cases of malnutrition in 2024, this small settlement has reported none.
The difference, according to the Hoachanas Children Fund (HCF), lies in a simple but powerful idea: community gardens.
At the heart of the transformation is the HCF Backyard Garden Project, which has quietly reshaped lives over the past four years. With more than 200 household vegetable gardens now thriving, families are eating better, children are healthier and communities are more self-reliant.
“We have a healthy and strong community,” said project coordinator Kenneth Rheent, who has overseen the initiative since its inception. “The gardens are not only feeding families, but also creating opportunities for income and dignity.”
Rheent explained that families maintain their gardens through seed-saving efforts, producing and replanting their own seeds while saving income from vegetable sales. “This cycle has strengthened food security and reduced dependency on external food aid,” he explained.
Mobilisation is key
Surplus produce is sold within the settlement, and HCF itself purchases fresh vegetables to supply its 18 soup kitchens, ensuring hundreds of children receive nutritious meals daily. “Farmer groups have also come together to sell their vegetables to the wider community, creating income opportunities for themselves,” Rheent noted.
But despite the success, challenges remain. “Our biggest challenge is water scarcity. Water is a threat to our project,” he admitted. “We also lack a proper market. We want the government to open a centre that will allow us to sell our vegetables in bulk.”
Every Thursday, members of the 18 garden groups – each with eight to ten participants – meet to exchange knowledge, motivate one another and strengthen community ties. Training is facilitated by local horticulture trainer John Kauena, but Rheent emphasised that community mobilisation is what makes the project thrive.
“The gardens are addressing hunger, creating jobs and building resilience,” Rheent said. “We’ve shown that through sustainable agriculture, lives in Hoachanas can be transformed.”
While the region recorded more than 2 800 cases of malnutrition in 2024, this small settlement has reported none.
The difference, according to the Hoachanas Children Fund (HCF), lies in a simple but powerful idea: community gardens.
At the heart of the transformation is the HCF Backyard Garden Project, which has quietly reshaped lives over the past four years. With more than 200 household vegetable gardens now thriving, families are eating better, children are healthier and communities are more self-reliant.
“We have a healthy and strong community,” said project coordinator Kenneth Rheent, who has overseen the initiative since its inception. “The gardens are not only feeding families, but also creating opportunities for income and dignity.”
Rheent explained that families maintain their gardens through seed-saving efforts, producing and replanting their own seeds while saving income from vegetable sales. “This cycle has strengthened food security and reduced dependency on external food aid,” he explained.
Mobilisation is key
Surplus produce is sold within the settlement, and HCF itself purchases fresh vegetables to supply its 18 soup kitchens, ensuring hundreds of children receive nutritious meals daily. “Farmer groups have also come together to sell their vegetables to the wider community, creating income opportunities for themselves,” Rheent noted.
But despite the success, challenges remain. “Our biggest challenge is water scarcity. Water is a threat to our project,” he admitted. “We also lack a proper market. We want the government to open a centre that will allow us to sell our vegetables in bulk.”
Every Thursday, members of the 18 garden groups – each with eight to ten participants – meet to exchange knowledge, motivate one another and strengthen community ties. Training is facilitated by local horticulture trainer John Kauena, but Rheent emphasised that community mobilisation is what makes the project thrive.
“The gardens are addressing hunger, creating jobs and building resilience,” Rheent said. “We’ve shown that through sustainable agriculture, lives in Hoachanas can be transformed.”
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