Conclusion
She adds that the passion for her children to have sufficient, diverse food was the main push behind her adoption of the kitchen garden. True to her ambitious dream, Mariam is now among the self-reliant refugees who no longer need food rations.
“These vegetables are better than what I used to get from the market. They are fresh, and they have significantly reduced the amount I have to spend on buying,” emphasizes Mariam.
With the kitchen garden in place, she is saving about US$45 a month. This money she uses to buy other essentials for her family.
Mariam explains that her biggest constraint is the lack of space. She dreams of expanding her kitchen garden so she can grow more, enough to feed her family and even sell the surplus in the market.
“I am sure my vegetables will be preferred to the ones that are brought from other areas, since they will get to the market when they are still very fresh,” Mariam adds.
In addition to households receiving training on kitchen gardens, they are also taken through cooking demonstrations to build their practical skills and strengthen their ability to prepare diverse, nutritious meals using locally available foods.
“It is great to see women like Mariam and many others taking up this food production technology which is very practical but most importantly impactful in terms of their nutrition and incomes,” says Elizabeth Kamau, the FAO project lead.
The project aims to reach another 2,000 households, also promoting the rearing of backyard chickens.
Iron-deficiency and anemia among women of reproductive age and poor dietary diversity among children under five remain a major concerns in Dadaab.
By growing vegetables and keeping poultry, families can access fresh and affordable foods that help address nutritional deficiencies. FAO News
