Kapayan women start kitchen gardens for food security

 

PENAMPANG: An effort by like-minded individuals has led to a project which encourages women in the Kapayan state constituency to start their own kitchen gardens.

Kapayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang said the project is a collaboration involving the Pacos Trust, Kivatu Nature Farm and the Penampang DAP Women's movement.

It involves providing planting materials to 30 women in two housing estates.

The materials include vegetable seeds, herb seeds, fruit seeds, seedlings, composts and potting soil.

"The free planting materials were provided together with information and tips on how to go about gardening.

"We have also given small garden plots to the women, who comprise of those who live in apartments and housing areas. They use the items to start their own urban gardens," said Jannie.

With the extension of the Movement Control Order, she said people continuously faced a serious economic crisis.

She added that food aid were not reaching vulnerable groups in Sabah.

In this regard, Jannie, who is Sabah DAP Women's chief, urged the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led state government to initiate programmes that would strengthen food production and food security.

Meanwhile, Kivatu Nature Farm coordinator Maria Benedict said the kitchen gardens not only provided fresh vegetables and herbs for families but also a way to reduce organic kitchen waste.

She said gardening promotes emotional wellbeing as it is a physical activity that also stimulates a person's cognitive functions.

"Besides that, crops which we grow ourselves are more nutritious and safer as compared to those we buy in shops.

"This project helps families to supplement their incomes by selling their plants and vegetables," said Maria.

Pacos Trust representative Philip Chin said the non-governmental organisations bought the seeds and seedlings from local farmers using funds under its sustainable food production programme.

He said the project provides expertise and strengthens farmers' food security. This will eventually help to sustain food production epecially during the Covid-19 pandemic. - NST