Hi Hive,
Agriculture is one great aspects of life that no matter how little the aspect of it you decide to venture into, you will flourish and earn if you're not a lazy type. What I saw today while walking through a riverbank really changed my my view on farming and agriculture at large as I found women turning riverbanks into a profitable vegetable gardens 🌱.
As I walked through a quiet path that led toward a riverbank not far from my area, I had no idea I was about to witness something that would totally change my perspective regarding agriculture and resilience.
From afar, I noticed movement near the river. At first, I thought it was just people fetching water or washing clothes, which is quite common since we are still in dry season but I realized it was something entirely different as I moved closer. I saw group of women, most of them are old enough to be my mother or mother than that, were working on little portions of land right beside the river. What I saw truly amazed me when I finally got closer.
The riverbank have been turned into a thriving vegetable garden by these women and they had carefully created bedding for their crops, neatly raised soil beds arranged in rows and look beautiful as well. They mainly focused on veggies like jute mallow and spinach and each section was planted with those veggies mentioned earlier and everything about the garden is well organized and dedication were visible in every details as well.
Despite the fact that most of these women are in their old age, their commitment is what really impressed me even more as majority of them were busy with using bucket drawing water from a little well dig by them around the riverbanks and watering their plants. While some of them were carefully removing weeds through handpicked. This is not just farming but a passion, discipline and means of survival.
I stood quietly there for sometime, observing and reflecting. These women were not just farming for food but they were earning a living and building life in a world where a lot of people wait for opportunities, they had already created theirs with their own hands. They basically understood the land, the water, and the needs of their plants as they monitored them daily, ensuring they got enough water, sunlight, and proper care to grow healthy.
Among those women, there is one of them who noticed me watching and greeted me a warm smile. I was able to asked some questions, and she explained how they plant, nurture, harvest, and sell their vegetables in nearby markets.
She spoke with pride and how most them are living a better life, sponsoring their children school fees meet up their daily needs through this riverbanks garden and I could see the strength behind her smile. Though it was not an easy job since they did this almost everyday, but it was really worth it.
I felt deeply inspired as I walked away from the riverbank and that simple encounter taught me that agriculture is more than just a practice but it's a powerful tool for empowerment. With just a small piece of land, access to water, no tractor or big machine or tools required and determination, resilience ,these women were able to support themselves and their families.
I have developed a deeper respect for small-scale farmers due to this experience, and most especially to women who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Their efforts may not always be visible or celebrated, but their impact is real and meaningful as they contribute greatly to the society.
Thanks for stopping by on my blog and have a wonderful day