Home Northern Africa Rooftop Revolution: Transforming a Struggling Egyptian Village Through Rooftop Agriculture

Rooftop Revolution: Transforming a Struggling Egyptian Village Through Rooftop Agriculture

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Rooftop Revolution: Transforming a Struggling Egyptian Village Through Rooftop Agriculture (Northern Africa) (3 Minutes Read) Nagaa Aoun, once a struggling village in Egypt's Beheira Governorate north of Cairo, has experienced a remarkable transformation. Thanks to innovative rooftop farming, the community has achieved self-sufficiency in vegetables and a stable income. Ragab Rabie, a 45-year-old former fisherman, spearheaded this initiative after being inspired by a video of a Chinese farmer cultivating crops on his rooftop. Recognising the potential to improve his and his neighbours’ financial situations, Rabie began exploring ways to adapt this idea locally. Previously, the village, bordered by small salt lakes and barren land, faced economic difficulties, with many men working as day labourers in nearby towns in construction, auto repair, and agriculture. After researching hydroponic farming, Rabie persuaded several residents to join a pilot project. The initial hurdle was that many homes were constructed from straw and reeds, which were not suitable for rooftop farming. However, with assistance from banks and financial institutions, many villagers built new homes with concrete roofs ideal for hydroponic systems. Today, the villagers are reaping the rewards of rooftop farming. Rabie noted that each hydroponic unit, measuring 105 cm wide and 3 meters long, can produce 405 seedlings, equivalent to the yield of 175 square meters of traditional farmland. These units can be harvested four times a year and use less than a quarter of the water needed for conventional farming, as the hydroponic system operates in a closed-loop, minimising water waste. The project has drastically cut unemployment in the village by 95 percent and improved living standards, with residents enjoying better housing, clothing, and food. He believes that innovative solutions like rooftop farming are essential for the future of agriculture in Egypt, where only 3-4 percent of land is arable. Rabie and the residents of Nagaa Aoun aim to promote rooftop farming in neighbouring villages to enhance food security and economic stability in rural Egypt. Read Also; https://trendsnafrica.com/egypts-agro-sun-to-export-to-us-market-for-first-time/ Rabie follow advancements in Chinese rooftop farming technology and hopes to collaborate with Chinese companies to boost local production and income, noting that there is much to learn from China's expertise in this field. Additionally, the initiative has extended to Alexandria University, where villagers have established hydroponic units to supply seedlings and aromatic plants for agricultural research.

(3 Minutes Read)

Nagaa Aoun, once a struggling village in Egypt’s Beheira Governorate north of Cairo, has experienced a remarkable transformation. Thanks to innovative rooftop farming, the community has achieved self-sufficiency in vegetables and a stable income.

Ragab Rabie, a 45-year-old former fisherman, spearheaded this initiative after being inspired by a video of a Chinese farmer cultivating crops on his rooftop. Recognising the potential to improve his and his neighbours’ financial situations, Rabie began exploring ways to adapt this idea locally.

Previously, the village, bordered by small salt lakes and barren land, faced economic difficulties, with many men working as day labourers in nearby towns in construction, auto repair, and agriculture. After researching hydroponic farming, Rabie persuaded several residents to join a pilot project. The initial hurdle was that many homes were constructed from straw and reeds, which were not suitable for rooftop farming. However, with assistance from banks and financial institutions, many villagers built new homes with concrete roofs ideal for hydroponic systems.

Today, the villagers are reaping the rewards of rooftop farming. Rabie noted that each hydroponic unit, measuring 105 cm wide and 3 meters long, can produce 405 seedlings, equivalent to the yield of 175 square meters of traditional farmland. These units can be harvested four times a year and use less than a quarter of the water needed for conventional farming, as the hydroponic system operates in a closed-loop, minimising water waste.

The project has drastically cut unemployment in the village by 95 percent and improved living standards, with residents enjoying better housing, clothing, and food. He believes that innovative solutions like rooftop farming are essential for the future of agriculture in Egypt, where only 3-4 percent of land is arable. Rabie and the residents of Nagaa Aoun aim to promote rooftop farming in neighbouring villages to enhance food security and economic stability in rural Egypt.

Read Also;

https://trendsnafrica.com/egypts-agro-sun-to-export-to-us-market-for-first-time/

Rabie follow advancements in Chinese rooftop farming technology and hopes to collaborate with Chinese companies to boost local production and income, noting that there is much to learn from China’s expertise in this field. Additionally, the initiative has extended to Alexandria University, where villagers have established hydroponic units to supply seedlings and aromatic plants for agricultural research.

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