Wilfreda Anyango is a mother of 8 children from Oboch Village of Kameji in North Kamagambo, Kenya.
Wilfreda has to work extra hard to supplement the little income her husband is getting as a casual laborer in a nearby school since she has such a large family. Wilfreda joined DIG’s sustainable agriculture training because she is a member of the Umama Salama Group (Lwala Community Alliance Women’s group who work as community health workers to encourage women to give birth at the hospital).
Even though Wilfreda has to walk 5 miles to the Lwala Hospital Facility, she has never missed a DIG training session rain or shine since the project began in October. When asked why she is so dedicated to project she said: “God sent me this amazing opportunity to learn, there is no way I am going to miss anything!”
Before joining DIG’s training, Wilfreda did not think it was possible to use the small space at her home to grow vegetables. “I only planted Kale and used chemical pesticides which at times I couldn’t afford and watched my plants get destroyed by pests.”
Wilfreda has adopted many of the techniques she learned with DIG. “I have made raised and double dug beds with foot paths! I have built 19 beds in my home garden and have planted kales, osuga, mito, dek, onions and eggplants!”“My husband was initially skeptical about this and was wondering why I am making ‘graveyards’ in our garden but now he enjoys pulling out weeds from the beds. I make inorganic pesticides made from lantana camara and chillies and have been improving my soil with compost and manure.”
Wilfreda is able to sell excess veggies each week. “I earn around 500 Kenya Shillings a week which I have been using for school fees.”
“DIG’s training has made me become a confident vegetable farmer, wife, parent and teacher to my fellow farmers.”