As the earth creation stories emphasize that the earth was ordered to provide food and sustenance for all living creatures, the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD) has taken the initiative to ensure that brethren within KZN have enough to eat by launching its One Church One Garden Programme on Tuesday.

Religious and traditional leaders, men, women and children, gathered at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Maphumulo area to witness the first church garden under the programme take shape on Tuesday 26 March 2024.

One Church One Garden is designed to encourage churches to develop a culture of producing food for themselves and these vegetables will be shared with disadvantaged church members. A need assessment exercise will be conducted to determine the unique needs of each church and they will be provided with implements, vegetable seeds and seedlings, extension services as well as thorough training.

Depending on land and space available, churches will either start backyard gardens or tactical gardens for extremely limited spaces. Roof top gardens have been highly recommended as well as vertical farms.

Mrs Z.F. Dlamini-Khuzwayo, Maphumulo Local Municipality Mayor, said she was grateful for the opportunity created by KZN DARD of gathering all denominations under one roof during this time of compassion. She said the Department’s visit was an indication of its commitment to changing people’s lives and a sure step towards the eradication of hunger within the province.

MEC Super Zuma emphasized that the One Church One Garden Programme would accommodate all denominations. The MEC praised all religious leaders for allowing the Department to intervene as it was its mandate to end poverty, joblessness and the existing inequality through agriculture.

He added that the Programme would mainly target women, child-headed households, people with disability and the youth.

“This is a Programme close to my heart. It is fitting that we launch during Human Rights month and a time when the people of KZN are preparing for the Easter weekend. Our program will unite our religious communities and we are grateful to all religious leaders for willingly wanting to take this journey with us. We are ready to equip all churches with what is required to get the vegetable gardens started. In a few months we want to see families eating from our soil,” said MEC Zuma.

Ecclesiastes 11:4

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”