09/07/2026
From Dishes to Dinner: How One Cowdray Park Mother is Beating Drought with Smart Farming.
By Brian Ndlovu, KYCTV Bulawayo
When the rains fail and water taps run dry, most urban families in Bulawayo worry about their next meal. Raina Chevure, a mother living in Segment 10, Cowdray Park answer is growing right outside her kitchen door in plastic dishes.
Raina was among the community members who attended the Smart Farming Practices training at the Inala Climate Resilience Hub, Luveve Office, on 1 June 2026. The session focused on climate-smart, water-saving methods for urban households facing El Niño-induced drought.
Today, she is putting that training into action. Instead of traditional garden beds, Raina is growing onions and leafy vegetables in recycled plastic dishes and bags on her small backyard.
“Less Water, Less Space, More Food”
“This method is a lifesaver for us in the city,” Raina says. “I don’t have a big yard, and water is rationed most days. With the dishes, I use a cup to water each plant. Nothing is wasted. A little water goes a long way.”
Facilitators at the training taught participants to dig small planting holes, use containers to save space, and water crops sparingly. For families in dense urban setups like Cowdray Park, container gardening means you no longer need large plots and use large quantities of water to grow food.
Building Food Security Ahead of Drought
For Raina, the impact goes beyond saving water. “My children now eat fresh vegetables from our own home,” she says. “We are not waiting for shops or relief. We are preparing now before the El Niño drought gets worse, that gives me peace of mind as a mother.”
Her experience reflects a growing movement among community groups like Thembalethu, Sithunyiwe, and Sizinda Mpumelelo, who are adopting smart farming, tree planting, and climate savings to strengthen community resilience.
As climate change continues to affect weather patterns and food production, Raina’s dish garden is proof that small, smart changes at household level can protect families from hunger.
The Smart Farming training was conducted at the Inala Climate Resilience Hub with support from local community groups.
