Ruth Mdlongwa
Loading...
Authors
David Brazier
Issue Date
2017-02
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Agriculture , Energy
Alternative Title
Abstract
Sustainable Energy for Rural Communities (SE4RC) Gwanda district, Zimbabwe; Nsanje and Chikwawa districts, Malawi February 2015 – January 2019 Funding: European Union, OFID and GEF Small Grants ProgrammeRuth Mdlongwahas has 8 children and 5 grandchildren. Since she was widowed she has been staying with one of her daughters. “I used to rely on making and selling grass brooms for sweeping and buying and selling clothes to earn money. Relying on farming was a challenge because there was no rain here. We used to plant seeds but we would never harvest anything. Sometimes we would harvest sorghum, which I would use to feed my family, but we could not grow maize. “I could just about feed my family but a few times I could not get food. We would survive on tea and nsima. It was very painful because we could not get used to hunger. My children used to go to school when their father was alive but when I was widowed it became very difficult. He kept livestock (cattle and sheep) but they were either stolen or died. “I have been trying to grow crops for five years but without success. We used a diesel engine pump to water the crops but it would break down. “Things have improved because now we have water for our crops and we are looking forward to selling the crops and looking after our children and grandchildren. This will be our first successful harvest so I am very excited and very happy. I will be able to pay school fees for my grandchildren and buy cattle and goats.” Ruth has 8 children and 5 grandchildren. Since she was widowed she has been staying with one of her daughters. “I used to rely on making and selling grass brooms for sweeping and buying and selling clothes to earn money. Relying on farming was a challenge because there was no rain here. We used to plant seeds but we would never harvest anything. Sometimes we would harvest sorghum, which I would use to feed my family, but we could not grow maize. “I could just about feed my family but a few times I could not get food. We would survive on tea and nsima. It was very painful because we could not get used to hunger. My children used to go to school when their father was alive but when I was widowed it became very difficult. He kept livestock (cattle and sheep) but they were either stolen or died. “I have been trying to grow crops for five years but without success. We used a diesel engine pump to water the crops but it would break down. “Things have improved because now we have water for our crops and we are looking forward to selling the crops and looking after our children and grandchildren. This will be our first successful harvest so I am very excited and very happy. I will be able to pay school fees for my grandchildren and buy cattle and goats.”