Training in Agriculture and Nutrition

ACE trains community members in organic methods of farming and the establishment of planned kitchen gardens to encourage increased crop production around the year and better nutrition in the community particularly in the management of opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS.

Initial training includes: crop rotation, irrigation, organic methods of farming such as composting, mulching, tea fertilisers etc, farm planning, nutrition and its benefits in the management of malnourishment and the opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS.

Secondary training includes water saving techniques, food storage and protein products. Indigenous crops grown include: Crotolaria, Amaranthe, Spiderplant, Miro etc. Exotic crops grown include vegetables and fruit with high immune boosting elements such as pumpkin, spinach, garlic, vitamin A sweet potatoes, fruit, soya etc.

ACE now trains community mentors who are able to provide on the ground support and advice to trainees within their community. On average each mentor supports five trainees and research indicates that community members are adopting the skills and establishing their own kitchen gardens independently.