The potential contribution of a sustainable organic household food garden to vitamin A and vegetable needs of sampled low-income households, KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2003
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Abstract
Vitamin A deficiency is a worldwide public health problem. In South Africa, in 1999, 62
to 70 percent of children in rural areas and 48 to 62 percent in urban areas consumed less
than half the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin. A. This study set out to
investigate the potential contribution of home gardens to the vitamin A and vegetable
needs of low-income households, especially in rural areas. The study problem was to
develop a model of a sustainable household food garden to ensure adequate supply of
vitamin A rich vegetables to meet the vitamin A requirements of low-income households
throughout the year. The study subproblems included: first, to develop an organic
household food garden unit to provide adequate vitamin A and vegetables for households.
Second, to test the feasibility of the garden unit among sample households in two study
areas. Third, to test vitamin A and vegetable adequacies of the garden unit for the sample
households.
A survey of 52 households from Department of Agriculture communal garden projects in
Cuphulaka and Mlwandle in KwaZulu-Natal was conducted. The sample households
were participants in communal gardens, but the survey dealt with household production
only. Data included household demographics, types of vegetables grown, garden sizes,
gardening practices, the socio-economic and environmental constraints of home
gardening and the food frequency consumption. The garden unit was developed from a
review of literature regarding best practice of organic production of vitamin A rich
vegetables. The garden unit was demonstrated to the study participants and their
perceptions of the unit were measured in discussion groups to test the acceptance and
feasibility of the household garden. Data on household demographics and frequency of
vegetable consumption was used to measure adequacy of vitamin A consumed by
households and to test adequacy of vitamin A and vegetables from the garden unit.
Most participants depended mainly on communal garden projects for vegetables.
Although access to land seemed not a problem, few sample households practiced home
gardening. Water scarcity and lack of fencing were frequently reported as constraints of
home gardening by sample households who perceived home gardening as a cost-effective
way of diversifying and adding nutrients to family diets. However, vegetable production
in home gardens was characterised by low yields and seasonal availability. The potential
of the household food gardens to increase vegetable production was found feasible by
sample households.
No significant difference was identified in vegetable consumption of households with and
without home gardens. In fact, participation in communal gardens does not increase the
vegetable consumption of sample households, which may be the result of no or low
production and poor eating habits. The study assumed that rural households should
consume at least 33 percent of RDA of vitamin A from vegetables, yet many sample
households consumed less than this. Sample households could obtain enough vitamin A
and vegetables from the garden unit/s, and in many cases they could have surpluses.
Recommendations include the integration of home gardening in government strategies
and integration of nutrition education in programmes that aim at increasing vegetable
production in communal and home gardens in study areas.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.
Keywords
Vegetable gardening--KwaZulu-Natal., Organic gardening--KwaZulu-Natal., Households--KwaZulu-Natal., Vitamin A in human nutrition--KwaZulu-Natal., Food supply--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Food security.