15 May 2014

Forty-two-year-old Masego Mpati uses two wooden sticks to balance himself as he walks about because he has one leg. However, this has not dampened his spirit of becoming a great backyard garden farmer

Though for the past two decades his life was full of more questions than answers, today, Mpati says his life has changed completely since the day he attended a workshop on poverty eradication in February 2013.

Before then, one of the questions that distressed him most was whether he would be able to develop the residential plot he had acquired from the land board because, traditionally, at the age of 21, one was considered old enough to live independently.

During the workshop in question, Mpati, who hails from Moitoi ward at Thabala village in the Central district, says they were enlightened on various poverty eradication programmes, among them; LIMID and backyard gardening.

His desire to become a farmer was realised following the training he received and the full set of equipment he received to start up a backyard garden.

Glowing with a smile, he reveals that backyard gardening was a suitable project for him considering that he did not have to go far because it was home-based.

“I developed an interest in producing vegetables, and as you can see I am living with disability as I have one leg .  I think I made the right decision by opting for a project that I would manage from within my yard,” he said.

The budding gardener adds that he got all the necessarily gardening equipment and information under the backyard gardening programme in March 2013.

“I did not waste any time because I cultivated the soil and planted spinach, carrots, tomatoes and beetroots straight away,” he said enthusiastically.

“I used kraal manure as natural fertilizers for my plants and watered them accordingly,” he noted amidst giggles.

Mr Mpati has indeed defied the negative comments around people with disabilities that they cannot do anything for themselves except to fold their arms at home and do nothing.

Today, he is a true inspiration to other Batswana and a living proof that if one has a dream and works harder there is no way they can fail to realize their dream.

Despite his condition, his standard of workmanship is beyond reproach as he continues to appeal to his customers through producing fresh vegetables that appeal to their varied tastes.

However, Mr Mpati explains that for one to be successful in life, they must make an excellent performance of the project; task their primary goal and then dedicate all their energies to doing quality work to offer best produce.

Furthermore, the gardener reveals that his collaboration with agricultural officers has resulted in him conquering the challenges of vegetable diseases that could hinder success.

Mr Mpati highlights that he managed to attain his most fervent dream as a result of the assistance from the backyard gardening poverty eradication programme which provided him with a shade net, water pipe in the yard, jojo tank to save water in, seeds, as well as fruit tree plants of orange and mango.

He cautions other Batswana who are behind in utilising such programmes to stand up and utilise them as an effective relief to overcome unemployment and abject poverty affecting them.

He applauds the government for the continued support in terms of such economic programmes. ENDS