UNICEF’s family garden project in the Tindouf region (Sahrawis refugee camps, S.W. Algeria) started in 2006. Currently, it books a number of successes in the combat of desertification, fresh food production, improvement of public health and alleviation of poverty. Indeed, growing fresh vegetables and fruits under Sahara desert conditions in the refugee camps of the Sahrawis occurs for the first time in 30 years.This is a significant contribution to food security and public health, in particular that of the children, nowadays getting their daily portion of vitamins and mineral elements directly from the family garden. Here are some recent pictures taken by agronomist Taleb BRAHIM in the Smara camp (January-February 2008) :
Magnificent results with carrots and green peas
Lettuce, carrots, parsley, radish, red beetroot and zucchini in another family garden
Can you imagine that this is a small family garden in the Sahara desert ? Yet it is !
So, why can’t we duplicate this cost-effective, soil conditioning method to create food security and enhance annual income for the rural population in all the drylands of this world ? Is it ringing a bell for the multitude of organizations active in the refugee camps, wherever these are ? One day it will be recognized at the global level that this is better than a trillion words on “How to combat desertification ?“.
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Posted in Desertification, Gardening / Horticulture, Success stories - best practices, Technologies, UNCCD, UNICEF, WFP, desert/desert gardening, drought, family gardens, food / food security, hunger / famine, malnutrition, public health, rainfed agriculture, refugees, small-space gardening, soil conditioning, sustainable development
