SOUTH AFRICA: Mamasole Mofokeng is a 41 year old farmer from Evaton West, Gauteng in South Africa. Mamasole is one of Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) members who got the opportunity to attend RWA’s Agroecology School in Zimbabwe from 26 August to 1 September 2022. For Mamasole, the Agroecology School has been a great opportunity for women across SADC to come together and learn from each other. The women also pass on the knowledge they gained from the school to other women who couldn’t attend.
Mamasole said that at the Agroecology School they learned a lot about different ways of organic farming . She said that she learned how to make liquid manure, how to harvest water, the impact of climate change and she also learned about processing cooking oil, peanut butter and maize meal. Mamasole was happy that they also learned how to market and advertise their produce. Mamasole added that it has always been a challenge to market her produce but she believes with the knowledge she got from the Agroecology School, things will be better.
According to Mamasole, they also learned about drying their vegetables which will be helpful because their produce will no longer go to waste. The most important lesson for Mamasole was learning about seed banks because it doesn’t require a person to have a big space, it can also be done in a small room in containers in which one can save their seeds.
The school has helped Mamasole a lot because now she is able to harvest water. “Water is no longer a problem for me like it used to be before I went to the Agroecology School. I didn’t know that I can harvest rain water. Now I can also easily make my own liquid manure, using simple ingredients that I already have in my household. I am now able to dry my vegetables,” explained Mamasole.
Mamasole suggests that the Agroecology School should be hosted annually so that more women can benefit. “The school is a great platform for women to empower each other in farming and other factors affecting women in general,” concluded Mamasole.
SWAZILAND: Lonhlanhla Mthethwa is a 61 year old rural farmer residing in the region of Shiselenwe in Swaziland. Lonhlanhla is one of the members of Rural Women’s Assembly who attended the Agroecology School in Zimbabwe from 26 August to 1 September 2022. Lonhlanhla said she learned a lot especially how to make three types of organic fertiliser. Lonhlanhla was happy to realise the benefits of organic fertiliser for the environment and that making it is affordable, especially when a group of women contribute towards buying molasses – the main ingredient when making organic fertiliser.
Lonhlanhla appreciates the facilitator who displayed a passion for agroecology, “The facilitator was very understandable and patient with us. We could easily understand what she was talking about,” explains Lonhlanhla.
Lonhlanhla said she have also learned the types of seeds that RWA members have in Zimbabwe. Lonhlanhla was amazed to realize that in Zimbabwe they had large variety of seeds. For example, in Zimbabwe there is more than ten types of Sorghum seeds. Most of these seeds are also climate resilient.
Lonhlanhla said that the Agroecology School has also equipped her with knowledge that she has been able to pass through to other community based organisations in her region. Lonhlanhla has taught the community based organisations in her area how to make their own organic fertiliser. She has also experimented with organic fertiliser and was pleased to realise that the germination can occur within three days already, instead of the expected seven days.
Lonhlanhla recommends that the school is held regularly because it is very helpful for women farmers. However, she recommends that it be hosted in different countries so that more women can benefit from the opportunity to attend. Lonhlanhla says we need to encourage our women farmers to have seed banks in their households. She explains that women should, as a minimum, have at least eight different seeds in their seed bank. Lonhlanhla says she takes great pride in being a guardian of seed, love and land!
