NGOs help cooperative maintain gardens, coexist with elephants

The food garden at the Gingirikani Agricultural Cooperative in Phalaubeni village between Giyani and Phalaborwa is in constant danger of elephant incursions because the boundary fence of the Kruger National Park is just 4km away, according to team leader Vincent Mabunda.

- Herald Phalaborwa

With the assistance of conservation NGO, Elephants Alive, and food security NGO, African Conservation Trust (ACT), the small-scale farmers are fighting back with an environmentally friendly method to secure their vital food sources, while producing crops to sustain their livelihoods.

Mabunda said bee hives are strung near the food garden fence, above a mixed crop of lemon grass and chilli plants.

The elephants are afraid of bee activity and abhor the potent scent of the plants.

Solar-powered lights on poles are interspersed between the hives with suspended scrap metal producing a noise when activated by elephant movement.

Fabric soaked in recycled engine oil and chilli grinds is tied onto the external wire fence to deter the elephants from accessing the food gardens.

Mabunda said the coordinated efforts were successful in mitigating elephant incursions although there had been pachyderm activity in the area.