(ERGO) – Hassan Abdullahi Dooyo has pioneered the use of a greenhouse to grow horticultural products in Garowe, Nugal region.
As drought bites in much of the north, his adoption of new technology is causing high levels of interest among local farmers and business people.
Hassan, 48, studied economics and farm management in Canada. In 2009, he spent time working on horticulture farms in Kenya and Tanzania and started making plans to introduce the technology to Somalia.
After touring Mudug, Nugal, Bari and Sanag regions, he was able to assess the challenges facing farmers and the potential for higher levels of intense year-round production.
He invested in a 7,000 square metre tent greenhouse and planted for the first time in July 2015.
“I decided to use small amounts of water and a small area of land for this project to show that quality produce can be made from something small,” he said.
He spent around $600 on planting tomatoes, melons, carrots, and onions and made a gross income of $900.
Hassan explained to Radio Ergo’s local reporter, who visited his farm, that the tent shields the crops from too much rain, sun, wind and from insects. The pipe irrigation system enables water to be dripped onto the seedling, minimizing waste and the growth of weeds that compete for soil nutrients. He uses half the amount of water a local farmer would use on a similar area.
According to Hassan, traditional farming methods contribute to general low production. For example, a lot of water is wasted during irrigation, and water hitting the ground washes away soil and soil nutrients.
Hassan has been giving short trainings and consultations to local farmers and business people in the hope of encouraging take up by others of tent horticulture in Puntland.
