This study was conducted in the Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South
Africa. The study area is characterised by poverty-stricken rural households. A high proportion of
households relied on agriculture to supplement food for their families. The main objective of the study was
to investigate the role and contribution of food gardens to food security and community development. Prior
studies elsewhere and experiences of developing countries recognised the positive impacts of food gardens
in providing food security, household economic welfare and rural development. A longitudinal study was
undertaken to collect data from a sample of 383 households and 82 focus groups individuals selected
through purposive and snowball sampling. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to
collect data using interview questionnaires, observation checklists, a 24-hour food recall, a food frequency
questionnaire, and a focus-group checklist. Data were gathered on socio-demographics; the role and
contribution of food gardens to food security, household income and community development; challenges to
food gardening and strategies for sustainable year-round availability of food. The Statistical Package for
Social Science Version 23.0 was used to analyse quantitative data while the content of qualitative data was
analysed to develop themes. Inferential statistics was done to determine the significance of the findings
through correlation testing and regression analysis.
The findings revealed that 56% of food gardeners were men, with people of different age groups,
educational background, training and experiences in food gardening. Almost all (99.7%) participants had
food gardens, which allowed them access to food for consumption and selling. Food gardens enabled
households to spend less money on food. Income earned by selling garden produces helped to buy
uncultivated food stuff and other basic necessities. Different kinds of garden produces were available in
different seasons, which allowed households to access food throughout the year. Indigenous vegetables were
also utilised. Food gardens played a major role and contributed significantly to food security and community
development. Moreover, food gardens promoted avenues for job creation, self-employment and self reliance. Challenges to food gardening were addressed to ensure a sustainable year-round supply of food.
The study provided a framework for understanding the relationship between food gardening and food
security.
Ngudo iyi yo itwa kha Masipala wa Thulamela, Tshiṱirikini tsha Vhembe kha Vundu ḽa Limpopo, Afrika
Tshipembe. Sia ḽa ngudo ḽo ṱalulwa nga miṱa ya mahayani i re na vhushai. Tshipiḓa tshihulwane tsha miṱa
tsho ḓisendeka nga zwa vhulimi u tikedza zwiḽiwa zwa miṱa yavho. Tshipikwa tshihulwane tsha ngudo ho
vha u ṱoḓisisa mushumo na u dzhenelela ha ngade dza miroho kha tsireledzo ya zwiḽiwa na mveledziso ya
tshitshavha. Ngudo dzo rangelaho idzi huṅwe na tshenzhemo dza mashango ane a khou bvelela dzo dzhiela
nṱha masiandaitwa mavhuya a ngade dza zwiḽiwa kha u ṋekedza tsireledzo ya zwiḽiwa, mutakalo wa
ikonomi ya muṱa na mveledziso ya vhupo ha mahayani. Ngudo buḓa dzo itwa u itela u kuvhanganya data u
bva kha miṱa ya 383 na zwigwada zwo sedzwaho zwa vhathu vha 82 vho nangiwaho nga kha
tsumbonanguludzwa dzi re na ndivho na u vhudzisa vhaṅwe vhathu vha re kha ṱhoḓisiso. Ngona dza
ṱhoḓisiso khwaḽithethivi na khwanthithethivi dzo shumiswa u kuvhanganya data nga u shumisa
mbudzisombekanywa dza inthaviwu, mutevhe wa mbudziso dza mbono, u elelwa zwiḽiwa zwo liwaho kha
awara dza 24, mbudzisombekanywa dza misi yoṱhe dza nga ha zwiḽiwa, na mutevhe wa tsedzuluso wa
tshigwada tsho sedzwaho. Data yo kuvhanganywa kha demogirafi ya matshilisano, mushumo na u
dzhenelela ha ngade dza zwiḽiwa kha tsireledzo ya zwiḽiwa, mbuelo ya miṱa na mveledziso ya tshitshavha;
khaedu dza ngade dza zwiḽiwa na zwiṱirathedzhi zwa u wana zwiḽiwa ṅwaha woṱhe zwi sa nyeṱhi.
Tshiputelo tsha mbalombalo tsha Saintsi dza Matshilisano Vesheni ya vhu 23.0 yo shumiswa u saukanya
data ya khwanthithethivi, ngeno zwire ngomu zwa data ya khwaḽithethivi zwo saukanywa u bveledza thero.
Mbalombalo khumbulelwa yo itwa u itela u vhona ndeme ya mawanwa nga kha u linga u elana na
musaukanyo wa khumela murahu.
Mawanwa o dzumbulula uri 56% ya vhoradzingade dza zwiḽiwa vho vha vhe vhanna, hu na vhathu vha
vhukale ho fhambanaho, vhubvo ha pfunzo, vhugudisi na tshenzhemo kha ngade dza zwiḽiwa. Vhadzheneli
vhane vha ita mbaloguṱe (99.7%) vho vha vhe na dzingade dza zwiḽiwa dzine dza vha konisa u swikelela
zwiḽiwa u itela u ḽa na u rengisa. Ngade dza zwiḽiwa dzo konisa miṱa u shumisa tshelede ṱhukhu kha
zwiḽiwa. Mbuelo yo wanalaho nga u rengisa zwibveledzwa zwa ngadeni yo thusa u renga zwiḽiwa zwine
zwa sa tou limiwa na zwiṅwe zwithu zwa ndeme. Tshaka dzo fhambanaho dza zwibveledzwa zwa ngadeni
dzo vha dzi hone nga khalaṅwaha dzo fhambanaho, zwe zwa konisa miṱa u swikelela zwiḽiwa ṅwaha woṱhe.
Miroho ya vhongwaniwapo na yone yo shumiswa. Ngade dza zwiḽiwa dzo shuma mushumo muhulwane na
u dzhenelela zwihulwane kha tsireledzo ya zwiḽiwa na mveledziso ya tshitshavha. Zwiṅwe hafhu, ngade dza
zwiḽiwa dzo bveledza nḓila dza u sika mishumo, u ḓishuma na u ḓisendeka nga iwe muṋe. Khaedu dza
ngade dza zwiḽiwa dzo tandululwa u itela u khwaṱhisedza nḓisedzo ya zwiḽiwa i sa nyeṱhi ṅwaha woṱhe.
Ngudo dzo ṋekedza muhangarambo wa u pfesesa vhushaka vhukati ha u ita ngade dza zwiḽiwa na tsireledzo
ya zwiḽiwa
