Gardening practices in a rural village in South Africa 10 years after completion of a home garden project

Background. Few studies have documented whether the behavior changes produced by home garden projects have been maintained after completion of the projects. Objective. To determine the benefits and challenges affecting production and consumption of beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits in a rural South African village 10 years after completion of a home garden project. Methods. This cross-sectional survey assessed gardening practices and household consumption of beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits using a questionnaire (n = 186). Benefits and challenges affecting production and consumption of beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits were assessed through focus group discussions. Results. Thirty-nine percent of the households currently planted beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits. Major challenges included lack of fencing, animals eating crops, and lack or shortage of water. Planting materials for beta-carotene-rich vegetables were sourced from the community nursery, while papaya was grown from its own seed. Shops were the most likely alternative sources of beta-carotene-rich vegetables. The frequency of consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato, butternut, spinach, and papaya when in season differed significantly, with households planting beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits having more frequent consumption than households not planting these vegetables and fruits. Households planting beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits were perceived as "well-to-do" and "healthy" households and as "givers." Conclusions. This study showed that 10 years after the endline evaluation of a home garden project, approximately one-third of the households in the village planted beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits, which is very similar to the proportion at project completion and a postintervention study that was done 6 years later, despite various challenges, indicating that the practice of planting these vegetables and fruits was continued over the years.