The project of DiHokoHoko is a veggie tunnel garden which is situated in the Mukwe constituency in Kavango region east of Rundu, on the border with Angola. Last year we started with the planting of tunnels. Early last year the first tunnel was planted on with spinage and carrots and beetroots (April 2013). We harvested it in July and August. In July we harvested 3 752 leaves, and in August, 1 828 leaves, plus 28kg of beetroot and 22kg of carrots. After that 6 new tunnels were setup planted early August.

The 6 new tunnels were divided between volunteers, 2 to Poulus Mberema and 2 to Laurens Thinyemba. Two were given to Anton Mberema. After that a new water pipe and tap were bought by Mr. Albie to bring water close to the new tunnels. Even though the water pipe was taken close to the tunnels the water pressure at the tunnels was weak due to distance.

Early this year Mr. Albie setup a tower to lift the tank to 5M. The material was very expensive. To lift it up was a struggle. It was a first time for us to lift the tank to such a height. All the cost and labor for it was settled by Mr. Albie. After that the pressure was better and gardeners were getting water to the plants much better.

From the first planting early in August nothing much germinated. We don't know why for sure, accept that Anton's tunnels had some beetroot and carrots, but not in all the plastic planting bags though. On 16 August we replanted all the empty planting bags again, but again not all the bags germinated. This resulted in that the first harvest for the six tunnels was not so good.

During this period 8 ladies and 1 man volunteered for learning how to plant, how to use fertilizer, how to water plants, how to maintain the tunnels and the open garden.

Later in October 2013, heavy rain started and the plants suffer a lot. The plastic bags were full of water for a few days, having difficulty to drain. This was one of the reasons for the poor harvest in the tunnels. From all Anton's tunnels 1 398 leaves of spinage were harvested and 12 kg of carrots, 7kg onion, 132kg tomatoes 5kg of beetroot. The only plant which performed very well was the tomatoes. Poulus harvested 580 leaves of spinage, no carrots, no beetroot and no onion. Laurence 589 leaves of spinage, no onion and no beetroot.

Disease and insects entered Laurence's spinage and destroyed most of the plants.

I instructed them to pull out the damaged spinage and to plant new seeds. They planted carrots, onion and beetroots. Looking forward the tunnels promise to bring a better harvest.

After the training of the volunteer ladies, Mr. Albie and Anton started a small open garden where they could practice and produce vegetables for themselves to eat or to sell. Mr. Albie bought wire and pipes and a new irrigation system that was set up for them by Emanuel, a TOT from Hope Village. After fencing the open garden for the ladies, they planted on 24-01-2014 with Emanuel as their tutor. Different seeds were planted. Cabbage, carrots, beetroot, butternut and spinage. All the seeds were washed away by unexpected heavy rain.

I asked the ladies to replant and they did that for the second time on 07-02-2014. Everything germinated but again the rain came and washed it all away. This happened again on 14-02-2014 and on 28-02-2014. Four times they planted and it was washed away by the rain. This was very unexpected rain fall for this time of the year. We were receiving 45mm plus after each planting. The ladies garden has some cabbages and some butternut left.

We are now waiting a little bit and hope that by March, April, the garden will look green again. The harvest was not very good at all.

Apart from that the 1 hectare that was cleared and the 2 hectare which need to be cleared for gardening are all fenced off for the future open garden project. All the material and labor was paid by Mr. Albie. We hope that this project will benefit the community a lot in the near future.

To conclude we thank God who gave Mr. Albie for his love, patience, humbleness, commitment, encouragement and for his time and support.

With his good work we can change the community and the country.

Pastor Anton Mberema

Horticulture Manager - DiHokoHoko