Challenges Facing Women’s Community Vegetable Gardening in the Echobeni area of KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa

Abstract This paper presented the results of a qualitative study on challenges to community gardens as a livelihood strategy in a rural community. The paper aimed to generate knowledge on the manifestations of the challenges and what could be done to minimise them. Its objective was to describe the challenges to community gardens. The paper used a qualitative case study of community vegetable gardens in the Echobeni area situated on the south coast of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Interviewing method was used. Five purposefully sampled participants from a population of 20 women engaged in vegetable gardening in the Echobeni area were interviewed. The study identified seven challenges, namely: lack of institutional support and leadership support; vandalism; pests; lack of knowledge and marketing; land tenure; inadequate water supply; and lack of motivation. The study recommended the need for capacity building, the adoption of a sustainable livelihoods’ framework, the promotion of institutional linkages, security of land tenure, and encouraging the participation of the rural youth.