The garden, once a source of hope and food security for the remote community in CRR South, has fallen into disrepair. Villagers lament that the joy and promise brought by the project have been shattered, as the protective fence has collapsed and water supply remains unreliable, leaving families without their main source of income.
Measuring 100 metres by 200 metres, the garden was established in 2013 by an American Peace Corps volunteer who sought to help the community with a horticultural project. At the time, the initiative provided a vital means of income generation and helped ease economic hardship.
Sanna Ceesay, who oversees the garden, explained that he had received training in community garden management, which initially boosted productivity. However, he noted that challenges soon emerged, particularly the collapse of the fence, which left crops exposed to stray animals. Attempts to improvise fencing were short‑lived, leading to further damage and eventual abandonment.
Speaking on behalf of the village women, Oumie Barry urged for urgent support to revive the project. She stressed that women in the community currently have no other source of income, creating severe financial difficulties. She renewed calls on individuals, NGOs, and government agencies to help reconstruct the fence and restore water supply to ensure uninterrupted production.
Village Alkalo Lamin Fatty recalled that at the height of production, the garden had provided a significant economic boost through healthy harvests. However, he said this success was short‑lived due to the broken fence and lack of water, which exposed the garden to ruminants and caused poor productivity.
Fatty emphasised that given the size of the garden, it has the potential to provide sufficient harvests to ensure self‑reliance for the people of Kununku and contribute to food security across the wider region.
