Rooftop planting tables being prepared in Cairo. Source: Aga Khan Foundation
which is laid on plastic sheeting on special wooden tables. A simple system of small plastic hoses drains excess moisture into a bucket. As most rooftops have water connec tions, irrigating the crops is a simple task: the water is mixed with manure and this nutritious solution is applied on the planting tables. This technique consumes around 60 percent less water than traditional agriculture.
Long-term strategy Various governmental bodies and civil society organizations are also making efforts to expand the green roof concept across Egypt. The Ministry of Education launched in 2001 a project in cooperation with CLAC advisors to place ornamental plants on the rooftops of Cairo schools. However, the project, which was funded by the Cairo governorate, could only be implemented in a few schools, as most did not have safe roof spaces or safe access to roofs. Civil society organizations, includ ing the Aga Khan Foundation and several local NGOs, have also launched projects
“I feel happy seeing the crops grow. If one day we run out of agricultural land, we will have an alternative.” Nawal Ramadan, Cairo resident
in lower-income neighborhoods in Cairo, with varying success. According to el-Beheiry, the absence of a long-term government strategy is problem atic. “Government officials work according to their personal preferences and priorities, so whenever an official leaves, we have to start all over again,” he said. Marketing the produce also remains a challenge. “Different NGOs are explor ing how to sell the fruit and vegetables produced in roof gardens directly to local restaurants and cafés, but concrete results have yet to be seen,” el-Beheiry said. He dreams of introducing urban rooftop gardens across the country to improve
public health and general living standards. While efforts remain localized and smallscale, the concept could provide huge environmental benefits to Egypt’s rapidly growing cities. In addition, Egypt’s waterthirsty agricultural sector, which con sumes 86 percent of the country’s water resources, could save significant amounts of water by introducing soilless agriculture and other water-saving techniques on a larger scale. Hanan Solayman is a Cairo-based freelance journalist. She is one of the founders of the EMAJ online magazine created by the EuroMediterranean Academy for Young Journalists and is the founder of Mandara, an online local news portal for Upper Egypt.
51