Residents of Kiambu county have been urged to convert their backyards to money generating areas by embracing vertical agriculture which will help them earn some income and have constant supply of fresh food.
The Sub-County agribusiness officer Ms. Tabitha Gicheru said in her office today that people can earn income by growing vegetables on vertical gardens in homes and backyards where ground space is limited. She said that vertical gardens are ideal for people living in urban areas including those living in rental apartments. Terming it as a solution to food shortage, the agribusiness officer also urged people in urban areas to practice urban farming.
‘‘Vertical gardens are a form of urban farming. I want to encourage people to engage in urban farming because this is one way through which they can earn an extra money while enhancing food security at the same time,’’ said Gicheru.
She said that old gunny bags that are lying idle in the house can be converted to gardens adding that sack gardening is a good way to integrate vertical gardening.
Ms. Gicheru said that a gunny bag can hold up to 100 vegetable plants whose harvest can fetch up to 40 kilograms of vegetables adding that some can be sold to earn some income.
She added that sack gardening is ideal even in areas that experience water shortage because the sack is watered as needed hence little water waste.
Mary Wanjiku, a resident of Kiambu town who lives in a residential flat says that she has been practicing vertical gardening for the last 3 years. She has now set up a green grocery where she sells vegetables from her vertical gardens.
“My family has never gone hungry. I have now started a green grocery business which has expanded the market for my vertical gardens produce,’’ said Wanjiku. She urged people to venture into urban farming saying that it provides a constant supply of food that is fresh.