The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has installed two greenhouses, each with a 250 sq meters area, at the National University’s (UMMADA) Department of Agriculture in Mogadishu as part of an extensive project to enable the growing of vegetables and fruits every month of the year and further strengthen Somalia’s agricultural infrastructure.
According to Ilhami Turus, TIKA’s coordinator in Somalia, the greenhouse project which comes with drip irrigation systems will help save water in the regions that have irrigation problems.
“Somalia’s economy depends on agriculture and livestock breeding and therefore, activities in this field should be supported,” said Tulus.
On his side, Prof. Mohamud Mohamed, the Provincial Director of Agriculture of Mogadishu thanked TİKA saying that the project is a strategic step on the agricultural education in Somalia.
“I am confident that the project’s contribution to the country’s agriculture will be seen clearly in the near future,” said Mohamed.
After the installment of the greenhouses was complete, one-week-long pieces of training on green-housing were given at the university by the engineers who graduated from the university in Türkiye.
Providing blueprint for farmers who use traditional agricultural methods
The greenhouse project, which will provide a blueprint for the farmers who use traditional agricultural methods, will increase the professional knowledge and experience of the students, support their applied training, and enable them to have experience in the field of agriculture.
Within the scope of the project, the agricultural equipment, fertilizer, pesticides, and machinery for seeding and harvesting were also provided to be used in the first implementation.
The Horn of Africa country is currently importing 80 per cent of the fruits and vegetables that it needs for its population of over 17 million people.
The goal of this project, therefore, is to encourage local production and to provide the people with fresh products.
The project opening ceremony was also attended by the Rector of Somali National University, Prof. Hassan Osman Ga’al, Dean of Department of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdisamad Adam and the university students among others.
