Stories

Harvesting Nutritious Vegetables and Generating Income, one Backyard at a Time

Syamsiah is a coordinator of Balai Sakinah ‘Aisyiyah (BSA) in Bonto Maccini village, Sinoa subdistrict, South Sulawesi. In 2015, Syamsiah, together with residents of Bonto Maccini, farmer groups, members and cadres of BSA participated in Socialisation of House Yard Utilisation by Food Security Agency which was supported by MAMPU.

This event inspired Syamsiah to encourage her assisted members of BSA, who mostly are housewives to plant vegetables in their yards. She believes that growing vegetables can improve access to nutritious food and help people of Bonto Maccini to generate additional income.

Syamsiah began her effort by persuading members of BSA to collect and recycle plastics and unused bottles for media to grow vegetables. Thereafter, Syamsiah and members of BSA invited Food Security Agency to their village to teach them how to grow vegetables in their yards and make compost from organic waste and animal waste.

After several months, they have successfully harvested kales for couple of times. They usually sell the vegetables in market and stalls around their neighborhood. They also plant other vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, bitter gourd and cucumber.

According to Syamsiah, growing vegetables in their yards would bring a major potential source of cash income.

“We are grateful, through the support of MAMPU and ‘Asiyiyah, now, we understand the importance of land use to grow vegetables. We can earn additional income by selling the vegetables,” Syamsiah said.

Currently, their garden is growing immensely.  Syamsiah’s neighbors who are also members of BSA begin to grow vegetables in their yards.

Syamsiah is very satisfied with the results. Now, the unused yards in Bonto Maccini have a productive value.

“Our yard soil is very fertile. Unfortunately, it had never been used before,” she said.

The government also supports Syamsiah and members of BSA to grow vegetables in their yards since it brings benefits for residents of Bonto Maccini.

“We name it The Seed Garden of Balai Sakinah ‘Aisyiyah (BSA) since members of BSA had done the whole process. We also give the vegetables to them. They could sell or keep the vegetables for their daily consumption. We hope through The Seed Garden of BSA, residents of Bonto Maccini could improve access to nutritious food,” she said.

Syamsiah is very grateful for MAMPU’s and ‘Aisyiyah’s assistance in developing The Seed Garden of BSA. In the past, she was not aware of the earning potential of the disused yards in her village. Last year, members of BSA and Syamsiah did not have additional incomes to make their ends meet. Now, thanks to the knowledge gained from the Food Security Agency, they understand how to grow vegetables and make organic compost. In fact, husbands of BSA members were moved by their persistence in taking care of The Seed Garden of BSA. The husbands start to help their wives in developing The Seed Garden of BSA. Through these supports, members of BSA can sell larger amounts of vegetables to market.

“I hope the Seed Garden of BSA will be more successful and bring benefits to members of BSA and residents of Bonto Maccini,” Syamsiah said.

*Based on Most Significant Changes story written by Kasmawati, from Bantaeng, South Sulawesi, used for communication purposes.
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