Urban agriculture

Urban agriculture in Mutare

In the Netherlands ‘volkstuintjes’ – allotments are common. Nowadays, city dwellers can retreat to their allotments, where they grow beautiful plants and flowers. Thirty to forty years ago, however, the allotments were primarily used for growing vegetables.

In Mutare, you can also find allotments, mainly used for growing vegetables. Citizens of Mutare may lease some land for growing crops.

The department of Environment of the City of Haarlem assisted Mutare to set up a course. This course helps the people of Murahwa and Hobhouse to grow their own crops in an ecological friendly way. To use an ecological friendly method is beneficial in two ways: it is better for the environment and it safes money on pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Ecological cultivation also helps in maintaining fertile soil.

In Mutare, the course is provided for by the Community Services Department and Environment Africa. In Murahwa, the land next to the Zororai Old People’s Home is used for the course.