Women in Husri, Hyderabad have begun harvesting their first crop of ladyfingers under a kitchen gardening initiative led by SPARC as part of the COL4D Empowering Women & Girls project.
The first harvest is a visible sign of progress toward self-reliance and food security for participating families. The success of the ladyfinger crop reflects the community’s dedication and the practical benefits of kitchen gardening for household nutrition and daily meals.
With ongoing support and resources from SPARC and COL4D, residents say the project has introduced sustainable, community-led farming practices that are easy to replicate at home. This local approach helps women manage small plots effectively and see quick, tangible results from their kitchen gardening efforts.
The initiative also strengthens women’s role in household decision-making by providing direct control over food production and modest opportunities from surplus produce. As the women harvest, neighbours and local markets are beginning to notice the quality and consistency of the produce.
Organisers and community members describe the moment as a milestone in a wider effort to build resilient communities through kitchen gardening, with hopes that similar efforts will spread to neighbouring areas as techniques and seeds are shared.
