News in brief: The Ministry of Agriculture in Eritrea organised a workshop to promote urban agriculture, focusing on vertical farming, roof gardening, hydroponics, and aquaponics. The event aimed to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices that improve nutrition.
The Ministry of Agriculture in Eritrea recently organised a two-day workshop on urban agriculture between July 4 and 5, 2023. The event, held in the capital city of Asmara, aimed to introduce and promote various aspects of urban agriculture. These aspects include: vertical agriculture, roof gardening, hydroponics, and aquaponics. It provided participants with valuable knowledge and insights into sustainable farming practices that can be implemented in urban settings.
Almaz Gebreyohannes, head of Agricultural Innovation and Technology at the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the workshop’s objective was to encourage more farmers to adopt urban agricultural practices. She highlighted the significance of these practices in improving nutrition through integrated, diversified, nutrition dense house gardens. The ministry’s representative also called on all members of society to play their part in introducing and developing the sector.
Sub-zonal administrators, city administrators, agricultural experts, agricultural teachers, and secondary school students all participated in the event. They discussed the report presented and adopted various recommendations such as conducting extensive awareness campaigns, applying waste management and using it in the development of urban agriculture. Participants are also expected to conduct regular follow-up on the progress of the activities.
Agriculture is Eritrea’s main economic activity and it made up 11 percent of its economic value, according to a Central Intelligence Agency report. The country has 565,000 hectares (1,396,000 acres) of arable land and permanent crops. About 63% of the Eritrean workforce is employed in agriculture, accounting for roughly one-third of the economy. Its main agricultural products include sorghum, millet, barley, wheat, legumes, vegetables, fruits, sesame, linseed, cattle, sheep, and goats.
