Siyazama Community Allotment Garden Association

Located in Khayelitsha, Cape Town and initiated in September 1997, the Siyazama Community Allotment Garden Association (SCAGA) began with the objective of providing food security at household level.  This would be achieved by members cultivating their own organically grown vegetables, and through sales to the surrounding community and into vegetable outlets around Cape Town.  The Cape Flats townships are low-income settlements characterised by poor nutrition.  A desire to expand home food gardens into a larger community-based garden gave rise to an approach to Abalimi for assistance.  This project is centered on the Khayelitsha community.
Innovation

SCAGA is changing the perception of the target market, in that they believe that vegetable production is a means to an end and not an end in itself.  Investigative work has been undertaken to measure exact earning potential of the gardens.  Inputs and outputs have been monitored and crop rotations have been established in place of more traditional seasonal plantings.  The findings are that a profit of R2.37/meter squared is entirely possible, with room for intensification if necessary.  Incentives are being provided for many groups to start their own vegetable gardens.
Effectiveness

Objectives of the project were achieved through a multi-disciplinary approach involving ongoing technical support and input by Abalami and other partners in the Project, and continual assessment of the outputs.  All members involved have benefited by having a ready source of food, newly acquired skills, and an association they were instrumental in starting, money in the bank and hope for the future.  With a waiting list for membership, its intended purpose of poverty alleviation, job creation, food security and nutrition has been achieved.  
Poverty Impact

The project was started to create jobs, whilst providing nutritious vegetables for home consumption.  Tourists are treated to home-baked fare and tea, which generates great income.  Financial success can be measured by the  healthy cash state  of the project, as well as the organic vegetable outlets throughout the city.  The community as a business hub has adopted the Garden.  The project supports the livelihood of 30 people and their families. He total resource and infrastructure cost to date has been R250 000 (which includes fencing, irrigation, buildings, soil, fertility improvement, indigenous vegetation hedgerows etc). This equates to approximately R30 000 per job created.
Sustainability

No partners have withdrawn throughout the Garden’s growth to maturity, demonstrating the firm commitment by all to establish a leading and replicable model for the future.  Funding problems have been few, particularly with the Garden beginning to show signs of sustainability.  The project is becoming more economic, reasonably assuring the final success of the project.  If the members can find their own way for successfully co-operating on a long-term basis, then the other project role-players would be redundant and the project would become truly sustainable.  
Replication

The entire project was focused on creating a holistic replicable model.  There is no limit to the number of people that it can affect in Africa.  Constraints to similar projects would be around organisational structure and operational procedures, access to free or subsidised electricity, long-term funding and skill input for three years.
Partnerships
•    National Government - Dept of Health
•    Provincial Government - Dept of Health
•     Dept Social Services and Poverty  Alleviation,
•    Private Sector
•    NGO's