A group of 8 women work in this community garden located in the township of Avankou, Gbozoumé district, Agbomassé village, Sédo quarter. The garden is bordered on the east by the Igolo-Porto Novo interstate highway, the west by an Evangelical church, the north by vegetation and the south by a café and houses. It stretches over about 600 m2, and the soil is sandy-clayey. Speculating, one can spot production of: moringa, taro root, papaya, lettuce, aubergines, amaranth, oxymum (called “chiâyo” in the local dialect), nightshade (“gboman” locally), crin-crin, vernonia (“amanvivé”), tomatoes, (locally called “chôcotô”) and peppers. This garden has been here more than 3 years and chemicals were in full production. The intervention of Slow Food 10,000 vegetable gardens programme brought about a behavioural change leading to ecological production methods where the soil is fertilised by compost, animal waste and mulch. As to combating pests, they use ashes, crop rotation and food group association, returning health to the soil by incorporating organic materials because unhealthy soil is a source of plant pest proliferation. The garden is watered by a house tap belonging to one of the women managers. Produce is in part sold to cover garden expenses, the rest of the money earned is shared to cover daily needs, and the vegetables are harvested for family consumption.
Area
Agbomassè Village, Sèdo quarter, Avrankou township, Gbozoumè district
Coordinator
Gaston Daniel Oke
