initiative and available gardens (odds at 1.78) because the homestead garden initiative can only function if there are available gardens.
14.4.6 Focus Group Discussion Analysis
Focus group discussions with 57 GDARD officials responsible for the Homestead
Food Gardens Programme were conducted on the 5th to 9th February 2018. The
responses offered by the GDARD officials are as follows:
1. Follow-up visits are to be conducted, but the challenge of the huge number of
households being supported results in only a few follow-ups and monitoring.
2. The department works very closely with community ward councillors to encourage social cohesion, but the relationship is not well sustained.
3. There is a once off three-day training session of which households complained
about its contents and length, and after successful participation in the training part
of the programme, starter packages are given to the participants.
4. The GDARD is already working closely with other government departments to
augment other responsibilities not related to household gardening. For example,
the Department of Social Development is assisting in food parcels in some
districts, and the Department of Health is offering training on nutrition in some
districts.
5. The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development indicated the
need for youth involvement in the homestead garden programme as any future
agricultural development should be tailor made to attract the youth.
6. The department has encouraged the households to use rainwater harvesting,
mulching, and the use of grey water. The department has also requested the
Table 14.5 Univariate
analysis determining
gardens owned and still
available (N ¼ 1150)
Variables
OR and 95% CI
Household income
*1.299 [0.36–41.1]1
Access to irrigation
*1.29 [14.5–87.9]1
Garden tools
*1.07 [0.09–0.67]1
Agricultural training
*1.25 [0.20–2.79]1
Home garden initiative
*1.78 [1.15–12.7]1
Gender
0.85 [1.01–15.1]1
Age
0.70 [0.65–14.5]1
Level of education
0.997 [0.92–2.41]1
Land acquisition
0.998 [0.93–2.44]1
Household language
0.59 [1.1–16.4]1
Household expenditure
0.42 [0.3–15.1]1
Household head
0.23 [0.1–13.0]1
OR odds ratio, 95% CI 95% confidence intervals, 1< no association,
*1> association
14 Mechanism for Improving the Sustainability of Homestead Food Gardens. . .
319
14.4.6 Focus Group Discussion Analysis
Focus group discussions with 57 GDARD officials responsible for the Homestead
Food Gardens Programme were conducted on the 5th to 9th February 2018. The
responses offered by the GDARD officials are as follows:
1. Follow-up visits are to be conducted, but the challenge of the huge number of
households being supported results in only a few follow-ups and monitoring.
2. The department works very closely with community ward councillors to encourage social cohesion, but the relationship is not well sustained.
3. There is a once off three-day training session of which households complained
about its contents and length, and after successful participation in the training part
of the programme, starter packages are given to the participants.
4. The GDARD is already working closely with other government departments to
augment other responsibilities not related to household gardening. For example,
the Department of Social Development is assisting in food parcels in some
districts, and the Department of Health is offering training on nutrition in some
districts.
5. The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development indicated the
need for youth involvement in the homestead garden programme as any future
agricultural development should be tailor made to attract the youth.
6. The department has encouraged the households to use rainwater harvesting,
mulching, and the use of grey water. The department has also requested the
Table 14.5 Univariate
analysis determining
gardens owned and still
available (N ¼ 1150)
Variables
OR and 95% CI
Household income
*1.299 [0.36–41.1]1
Access to irrigation
*1.29 [14.5–87.9]1
Garden tools
*1.07 [0.09–0.67]1
Agricultural training
*1.25 [0.20–2.79]1
Home garden initiative
*1.78 [1.15–12.7]1
Gender
0.85 [1.01–15.1]1
Age
0.70 [0.65–14.5]1
Level of education
0.997 [0.92–2.41]1
Land acquisition
0.998 [0.93–2.44]1
Household language
0.59 [1.1–16.4]1
Household expenditure
0.42 [0.3–15.1]1
Household head
0.23 [0.1–13.0]1
OR odds ratio, 95% CI 95% confidence intervals, 1< no association,
*1> association
14 Mechanism for Improving the Sustainability of Homestead Food Gardens. . .
319