PROGRESSIVE
REPORT ON HOPE VILLAGE TUNNELS - Dec 2012 to Jun 2013
1. Productivity
The
year 2012 ended with the planting of new seeds into tunnel 4 and tunnel 3. We
also managed to employ two women to assist in the gardens. They looked after
the gardens in watering, weeding, cleaning and harvesting during the Christmas
holidays as I have instructed them. The sponsorship for their salaries came
through the Namibian Horticulture Trust. They have been employed till now and they
are doing a good job.
Green Peppers. This was the
first time that I have planted green peppers in the veggie tunnels and I observed
the crop closely. The planting date of the peppers was the 11th of
December 2012 and the first harvest occurred on March 22nd 2013. We had
only 2 plants per planting bag in row A, tunnel 4, which gave us 162 planting
bags, meaning that there are now 324 plants of peppers on this row. From the
time of the first harvest we have had a harvest of 810 fruits weighing a total
of 61kg. Some plants gave more fruits and others gave less fruits. Nevertheless,
in total, each plant gave us at least two fruits. I realized the fruits don’t
always weigh the same and that the number of fruits might be the same, but the
weight is far different from harvest to harvest.
We
harvested on a weekly basis and noticed that the green peppers were also
becoming smaller and smaller.
There
were cases of little insects here and there, such as green Aphids and Black Fly,
some Red Spider Mite too, but not enough to cause any problems in the garden.
We
continued the harvest in April, in the second month of harvest after the
peppers matured.
This
was the final harvest of green peppers, weighing 10 kg of 120 fruits that were
very small looking and quite a lot. The total amount as shown in the harvest
data was of 930 fruits.
We
had a good harvest of green peppers this term and we did not experience any
problems with pests and diseases as they grew well. The Hope Village houses
really enjoyed them. We sold some of the surplus for half the price they sell it
at the fruit store.
My
conclusion in this is that one can have a harvest of 4 green peppers per plant
in a season of 4 to 5 months if the fruits are well watered and cared for.
For
other productivity reports please refer to our harvest reports where we record
our weekly work for the veggie tunnels.
2. Training undertaken
Four
students from the Sun community were sent to Hope Village for urban
horticulture training during April 2013. They were to be trained in micro
gardening. The training went for two full weeks. They received equipment from
the IRDNC to start their own veggie tunnel gardening as part of a pilot project,
close to Divundu.
I
also trained a person sent to me by Albie Oelofse, which was trained in basic table
gardening. Her name is Aina Jeremiah and she passed with success.
In
the last few months, Hope Village has been the venue for training for 5
individuals from near and far in vegie tunnel gardening.
3. Drip-line
Irrigation
During
the month of April, Hope Village had a sponsor to change tunnel 1 for more
intensive veggie tunnel gardening. This tunnel has no planting bags, but one
single planting pit of about 450mm deep. This method allows for more plants to
be planted in the same area which our statistics will show. I also prepared and
installed a drip-line to be able to feed the plants more effectively.
The
drip-line was later implemented in the other 3 tunnels, but with the drip-lines
laying on top of the planting bags. The design goes as follows: The feeding
pipes as seen in the pictures come into the tunnel and they are T’d into a main
pipe of 50mm. I used a drilling machine to drill the holes to install the
nozzles.
The
feeding pipes are 12mm in diameter and I needed some joints to bring them
together where needed.
The
initial idea was to use pressure reducers and T joints but this was replaced
with the new design nozzles I installed.
I never
thought that the drip design would suit the veggie tunnels so well and to my surprise
as I completed the task, it worked out so well, it seems like ‘learning truly
ends at the grave’!
For
more on this you can refer to the pictures of this project.
4. Table Garden
Phase Two - Orange Babies
We
gave away some seeds to eight women of Orange Babies in the month of April 2013,
they planted their gardens for household consumption.
5. Crops currently
in the Garden
I
have planted new seeds in our tunnels for the very first time to allow for a
diversity of vegetable production. I am using a planting calendar. I now have
broccoli and cauliflower growing in the tunnels and I believe that the harvests
will be of a great benefit to wards the nutritious feeding of the Hope Village center.
Progressive
Report by
Emmanuel Muyumba
Urban Horticulture
TOT
+264 81 389 9866
Email: emmanuel.s.muyumba@gmail.com
