Different varieties of tomatoes are grown in this greenhouse employing soilfree farming methods in Jordan. Charlie Faulkner for The National
Different varieties of tomatoes are grown in this greenhouse employing soilfree farming methods in Jordan. Charlie Faulkner for The National
Different varieties of tomatoes are grown in this greenhouse employing soilfree farming methods in Jordan. Charlie Faulkner for The National
Different varieties of tomatoes are grown in this greenhouse employing soilfree farming methods in Jordan. Charlie Faulkner for The National

How a groundbreaking soil-less farming inititiave is empowering rural communities across Jordan


  • English
  • Arabic

When Rania Al Ofair's husband was sent to prison for unpaid debts two years ago, her only experience of running the family farm that provided their income was watching him work while she drank coffee. 

Now, in the desert town of Azraq in north-east of Jordan – a 90-minute drive east of Amman – Al Ofair, 45, is not only ensuring the farm survives, she is single-handedly building a business that thrives, thanks in part to soil-less farming technology.

It's a hot afternoon when The National meets the beaming mother-of-five as she leads the way, shaded by trees, to a small hut that was built using green mesh material tied to a metal frame. A layer of pebbles lines the floor and a protective plastic sheeting covers the roof, with the option to drop other pieces down on the sides. Inside are shelving units holding white tubs that contain sprouting barley. It is these green shoots that paved the way to Al Ofair's success.

How hydroponic farming is revolutionising rural Jordan

As one of 20 participants in the World Food Programme's H2Grow initiative in February, Al Ofair was trained in how to use hydroponic farming to grow fodder for farm animals, which means growing crops without using soil. She has shown her local community what can be achieved. "I recently made it into the local paper because of this project," she says. "I applied for a loan through the community to buy new equipment, so they wanted to know what the project was and why I needed the money. I showed them, they took a photo and then there was an article about me."

She says she often shows people around the farm and explains how easy it is for others to emulate the technique.

At its most complex level, hydroponic farming can involve controllable variables such as carbon dioxide, air temperature, humidity, oxygen and hydrogen levels, electrical conductivity and root-zone temperature. Mineral consumption, energy and water can also be monitored.

Hydroponic farmer Rania Al Ofair. Charlie Faulkner for The National
Hydroponic farmer Rania Al Ofair. Charlie Faulkner for The National

Having this level of control allows farmers to grow crops all year round. However, Al Ofair uses the most simple form of hydroponic farming – the seeds are protected from sunlight and dirt and are simply sprayed with water, generating green fodder within a few days.

"Rather than feeding my animals dry grains, they now have green fodder every day," she says. "It's greatly improved the quality and the quantity of the milk – the sheep were each providing less than half a kilo of milk per day but now I get 1.5 kilos per day. The quality of the meat is better and so is the quality of the wool, so I'm able to charge more."

Why more people should try the technique

Al Ofair has also learnt how to take care of the animals. She has got a taste of the business world and is determined to find other ways to increase her profit. "My husband used to be worried about leaving the animals, so he thinks what I'm doing is amazing," she says. "He keeps encouraging me and wants to expand the business when he gets out of prison." 

The WFP has also launched a more high-tech unit in the same area that offers much greater control and produces a larger amount of the fodder. The enclosed unit, which is run by a team of Syrians and Jordanians, isolates the crops from outside elements, insects and disease. The crops are sold in the community.

We tried to help other organisations learn from our experience instead of starting from scratch.

The WFP's H2Grow began in refugee camps in the Algerian province of Tindouf and has since been introduced across seven countries. The technology reduces costs by between 15 and 50 per cent compared to traditional farming techniques, while requiring 80 per cent less space and using 90 per cent less water. That is critical in Jordan, which is among the 10 most water-scarce countries in the world.

The WFP programme's policy officer Lama Almajali, who heads the initiative, says the technology helps to tackle environmental problems, water scarcity and food insecurity. Azraq was selected for the H2Grow initiative because it is an area of Jordan where farmers struggle to provide their animals with enough nutritional fodder.

"We noticed a lot of NGOs were doing hydroponics in Jordan but we wanted to become advocates for this," she says. "We tried to help other organisations learn from our experience instead of starting from scratch. We have manuals, we can save them time, effort and money. This is where the hydroponics platform came from."

Why water preservation is crucial in Jordan

Companies such as ECO Consult worked with the WFP to deliver the project. ECO is a local company that works with leading Jordanian farmers to introduce hydroponic technology on a large scale, thanks to funding from the Netherlands and the United States Agency for International Development. "If you produce about 25 kilograms of tomatoes per square metre in an ordinary greenhouse, using the top level of hydroponics you could increase that to about 75 kilograms," says ECO Consult chief executive Raed Daoud.

The Green Hub on the roof of Amman’s Landmark Hotel uses fish to grow plants. Charlie Faulkner for The National
The Green Hub on the roof of Amman’s Landmark Hotel uses fish to grow plants. Charlie Faulkner for The National

He stresses the need to find ways to preserve water. "In Jordan, for every kilo of tomatoes, we use 100 litres of water, but in the Netherlands, they've built a system that reduces that to just four litres per kilo," he says. "We produce around one million tonnes of tomatoes in Jordan and with our calculations that's around 100 million cubic metres of water. We know we can produce the same amount with just 40 million cubic metres through hydroponic technology."

A visit to a farm on the southern outskirts of Amman that is involved in ECO Consult's initiative shows exactly how hydroponic technology is used to grow tomatoes in a multi-span greenhouse.

The high-tech system goes far beyond Al Ofair's simple hut – computers monitor and adjust the greenhouse environment while feeding the plants a mix of nutrients and minerals at regular intervals. Visitors must also wear protective clothing to prevent diseases being brought inside.

There are many economic opportunities in hydroponics 

Daoud admits the initiative has not been without its challenges, due in part to a lack of expertise in Jordan and the cost of the technology. However, they have had success through a process of trial and error and the aim is for the farmers involved to encourage others to adopt the techniques.

Farmers who invest in hydroponics can enjoy subsidies and are given free technical support, says a spokesman for Jordan's Ministry of Agriculture. He says the ministry has launched a training programme to teach 100 farmers how to use hydroponic technology – the idea being that the participants educate others in their communities. The ministry has also introduced incubators in threegovernorates, with a further six planned, offering farmers training and a place to share their expertise.

The Green Hub’s Kevin Schiltz uses aquaponic farming to grow plants in Amman. Charlie Faulkner for The National
The Green Hub’s Kevin Schiltz uses aquaponic farming to grow plants in Amman. Charlie Faulkner for The National

Similar farming technology can be found elsewhere in Jordan, such as on the roof of The Landmark Hotel in Amman, where a beige dome known as The Green Hub is home to an entire ecosystem. This is known as aquaponic farming and involves using fish to feed plants.

The idea behind The Green Hub, which launched in 2016, was to experiment with the process and demonstrate how rooftop space can be utilised while helping to conserve water. "Waste from the fish becomes the food for the plants, meaning that no fertiliser is needed," says The Green Hub managing director Kevin Schiltz.

He says the long-term goal of The Green Hub is to work with schools and offer workshops, while also providing people with simple kits they can use on their own. "We aim to actually inspire communities that could use some form of this technology, while highlighting the economic opportunities."

Seven%20Winters%20in%20Tehran
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%20%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Steffi%20Niederzoll%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Reyhaneh%20Jabbari%2C%20Shole%20Pakravan%2C%20Zar%20Amir%20Ebrahimi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fitness problems in men's tennis

Andy Murray - hip

Novak Djokovic - elbow

Roger Federer - back

Stan Wawrinka - knee

Kei Nishikori - wrist

Marin Cilic - adductor

The Details

Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5 

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

A general guide to how active you are:

Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary

5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active

10,000  - 12,500 steps - active

12,500 - highly active

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet

Price, base: Dh429,090

Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission Seven-speed automatic

Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mozn%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammed%20Alhussein%2C%20Khaled%20Al%20Ghoneim%2C%20Abdullah%20Alsaeed%20and%20Malik%20Alyousef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Shorooq%20Partners%2C%20VentureSouq%2C%20Sukna%20Ventures%20and%20others%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
While you're here
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

Bullet%20Train
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Leitch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Aaron%20Taylor-Johnson%2C%20Brian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Sandra%20Bullock%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

A Prayer Before Dawn

Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire

Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai

Three stars

The smuggler

Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. 
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.

Khouli conviction

Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.

For sale

A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.

- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico

- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000

- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950