Look: 'Green Paradise' brings hydroponics to Libya

In theory, hydroponics can guarantee higher yields and profits than conventional farming

Published: April 18, 2021 13:14 AFP and Compiled by Devadasan K P, Picture Editor

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Under a yellow tarpaulin stretched over an arched metal frame, Siraj Bechiya and his partner inspect their hydroponically-grown lettuce, pioneers of the method in mostly-desert Libya where conventional agriculture struggles. Image Credit: AFP

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Zip ties, punctured plastic cups as pots and PVC tubing bought in DIY shops hold the precious crops at "Green Paradise" - so dubbed by the two young Libyan entrepreneurs spearheading the project. Image Credit: AFP

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But the ad hoc nature of the materials hasn't stopped the plants from thriving, their long white roots nourished by water rich with nutrients and oxygen. Image Credit: AFP

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Bechiya and his partner, Mounir, have been working tirelessly on their project for months in the small town of Qouwea, 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, erecting a tunnel-shaped greenhouse surrounded by breeze-block walls on a semi-arid site. Image Credit: AFP

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Their hope is to demystify hydroponic farming, which "guarantees a good yield in small spaces", uses little water and doesn't need pesticides, 20-year-old Bechiya told AFP. Image Credit: AFP

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Soilless farming has gained ground in many countries but is still in its infancy in Libya. But in a country whose territory is 90 percent arid desert, the method could offer a path toward more food self-sufficiency, Bechiya believes. Image Credit: AFP

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Agriculture remains a marginal sector in Libya, where the economy is dominated by hydrocarbons, the country boasting the most abundant oil reserves in Africa. Image Credit: AFP

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Arable land barely makes up three per cent of Libya's territory and is under threat, as rapid urbanisation eats up the fertile strip along the Mediterranean coast. Image Credit: AFP

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Another significant challenge for farming in Libya is the lack of water where agriculture needs it most. The Great Man-Made River - a project more than 30 years ago - carries drinking water pumped from groundwater tables in the south to the northern cities where most Libyans live. Image Credit: AFP

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