The Fransfontein community has revived horticulture production through a 16-hectare community garden now under full production.

The project boosts food security and income for the area, directly supporting 90 households and indirectly benefiting 390 others via fresh produce access. Established in 2022, it grows tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, and fruit trees like lemons, oranges, and naartjies.

Productivity dipped last year due to limited market access.

Community Garden Chairperson Martzia Haraes said the initiative has improved residents' lives. She commended the Environmental Investment Fund and the line ministry for support.

Martzia Haraes, Chairperson of the Fransfontein Community Horticulture Garden, said, "Back in the day, it had individual plots where old people farmed different types of gardening. Since the EIF and IREMA projects started, it's been fenced with an elephant-proof electric fence around the 16 hectares. We have a 460-cubic-litre dam fed by two historic boreholes in the fountain."

She added, "We faced a water crisis when the boreholes failed during the rains, but the IREMA project fixed the pumps. Now water flows again. As a community, we've tried our best, but we decided to invite investors to help turn things around."