Context
In Egypt, agriculture presents a real problem because of the desert weather conditions. Only the Nile Valley is suitable for cultivation, while the rest of the country requires extensive irrigation for crop production. The population is also concentrated on the banks of the Nile. Cairo, the Egyptian capital, is experiencing strong demographic growth. The dense population is contributing to air pollution and rising temperatures in urban areas. Faced with these challenges, urban agriculture could prove to be a solution for improving food security.
Having always been interested in plants and nature, Tarek and Sherif Hosny discovered hydroponics during a trip to the USA. Hydroponics allows plants to be grown above ground, with the roots soaking directly in nutrient-rich water and using very little water. The two brothers decided to combine this method of cultivation with a microcredit system, to help families in Cairo to set up their hydroponic projects, and created Schaduf in 2011.
The project combines a number of objectives: to clear empty terraces in the city to accommodate micro-farms, to help poor Egyptian families gain access to fresh produce (which can be difficult in this overcrowded and inaccessible city) and to generate income by buying and selling the surplus produce from these hydroponic micro-farms. All this while greening the city, which has only 4% green space.
The project
The start-up enables local residents to build a hydroponic farm on their roof or terrace. Installing a hydroponic micro-farm on a roof costs the equivalent of €630, but a large part of the cost is often funded by charities or 'donated' by the Schaduf start-up. The start-up also offers microloans so that anyone can get started. These are generally repaid within 1 year.
Kits (pots, substrates) are provided by Schaduf and the team supports families throughout the micro-farm set-up. Trainers are on hand to explain which plants and varieties grow best, and then to show how to plant the first seeds and install the first pots.
Once the hydroponic farms are producing enough, the Schaduf team buys back the surplus production from the families and sells it on markets in the Egyptian capital, with the help of local NGOs.
Who is it for ?
The initiative is aimed primarily at the most disadvantaged families in Cairo and the surrounding towns.
Which means ?
The start-up is supported by a number of local NGOs and financial backers, including the Drosos Foundation.
Results
Hundreds of hydroponic farms have been set up in Egypt, particularly in Cairo. These facilities not only improve air quality, but also provide additional income and healthy food for the most vulnerable families.
Little extra
The company also installs green walls or roofs on company buildings, shops, etc. to improve air quality and insulate homes from the heat.
This initiative sheet was written by Manon Piocelle, LFC intern - February 2023
Sources
- https://schaduf.com/
- https://www.dw.com/fr/des-jardins-sur-les-toits-de-la-capitale-%C3%A9gyptienne/video-51071836
- https://www.theswitchers.eu/fr/switchers/lentreprise-qui-vegetalise-les-toits-et-les-murs-du-caire/
Last modification : 12 Jun 2023.
Schaduf
Schaduf is a company founded in 2011 that works to design sustainable landscapes in Egypt and the Middle East. The company has several objectives: to improve food security, strengthen food sovereignty and limit the expansion of urban spaces to the detriment of green spaces. Schaduf is developing urban agriculture kits to meet the ever-increasing demand for fresh, local produce in cities.