In the old days, not so old, children participated in farming. In between February and August a lot of farming activities took place. It ran from clearing the shambas, ploughing, planting, weeding, and harvesting. In between weeding and harvesting was an anxious period where we would wait for the beans and maize to be ready.
Meanwhile vegetable eating was not debatable. The only way we could change diets were in the type of vegetable that would be prepared today and tomorrow. Otherwise, it was still green on the plates.
The harvesting season knocked and there would be sacks on our backs and heads. Carrying the fruits of our labor. For a period of almost one month we would be filling the granaries. Why am I concerned though, we can still make enough money and buy from hops and supermarkets that which we grew?
You see, when you work in the shambas from February to August a lot of things happen, albeit without your notice. First, muscles are built and the body strengthened from the activities. Second, the body is exposed to nature and the environment which is an obviously refreshing atmosphere.
We also learn how to fetch for ourselves and for the family amongst many things. These are the ways aspects of food security, which is older than Jess Christ (Read the book of Genesis and see how Joseph handled it, I believe it is there in Quran too) were tackled. A philosopher will preach that good things come after hard work!
Today we are reluctant. Few people passionately cultivate their shambas. Our children are weak and cannot hold hoes for ten minutes but can have the computer and TV remote controllers throughout the year. The foods we buy from supermarkets are not as nutritional as what we would cultivate.
In my belief we should change and invest more in our gardens, teach our children farming and leave the next generation in a moving gear, at a momentum that can take them upslope during food crisis.
