By Ritah Mukasa
Thomas Mawanda, a farmer in Kasangati, Wakiso district has been using elephant grass culms to protect his gardens from invaders.
He has two vegetable gardens in his backyard. He grows cabbages, tomatoes, spinach and green pepper.
He also rears ducks, rabbits and hens which would invade his plants.
“I didn’t have money to build a fence. A friend introduced me to elephant grass culms and they worked for me,” he says.
Elephant grass also called Pennisetum purpureum Schumach or Napier grass is a multipurpose plant.
Aside from being a windbreaker for some plants, this grass provides animals with silage. But its culms can make strong fences, especially for small backyard gardens.
On how he installs them, Mawanda fastens the culms on wooden poles. But he ensures to select durable ones.
John Singirankobo is a resident of Kabazana in Isingiro district also fenced his garden with these culms. He even secured it with a wooden gate.
“I dug holes around the garden and put the poles after which I added the culms starting from up going down while using strings or ropes,” he says.
Mawanda is quick to add that such a fence can last two or more years with good maintenance.
