A resident of Gibeon Village in the Hardap Region, Elwin Bloodstaan, has risen to the challenge of tackling unemployment and poverty.

After finding himself unemployed three years ago, Bloodstaan did not lie around idle but turned an open space at the back of his home into a vegetable garden to make ends meet.

As jobs are scarce, he encourages young people to create opportunities through small-scale farming.

The backyard gardener offered to share his skills with those wanting to venture into backyard farming.

He cultivates pumpkin, onion, water lemon, beetroot, butternut squash, spinach, and green pepper.

"I am advising the public at large to set up backyard gardens to tackle hunger and unemployment, which discourages people from shopping. Veggies you have grown with your own hands are healthier than those vegetable shops sell to us."

Bloodstaan highlights the high cost of pesticides and gardening equipment as among his greatest challenges.

"I do not have gardening tools such as wheelbarrows or nets and am battling to keep pests eating on my plants under control as I cannot afford to buy pesticides."

Bloodstaan says he plans to add a poultry project to supplement the income he generates from selling surplus veggies from the backyard garden.