Kashamata

In 2004, Irène Kalenga joined fellow growers at the Kashamata market garden in digging a kilometre-long canal to divert water from the Kafubu river to their fields. It took them three months, using machetes, picks and shovels, and a route survey carried out by the project. Their hard labour now provides a year-round water supply that has allowed them to expand their vegetable gardens from 3.5 ha to 9 ha. "All of my life is here," says Irène Kalenga, who earns around US$375 a month from the sale of onions, cabbages, tomatoes and eggplant.