Ethiopia tries hydroponic farming to improve access to nutritious food

The UNICEF-supported pilot program aims to combat growing child malnutrition, a growing concern as the country faces drought, food insecurity and other crises.

Innovative approach allows families to grow their own vegetables without soil – requiring little water

UNICEF works with partners to promote local solutions to the many problems vulnerable children face, such as malnutrition caused by poor diets, often due to lack of access to affordable, nutritious food.

In EthiopiaUNICEF helped launch a hydroponic vegetable growing pilot program as a way to combat child malnutrition while building the resilience of local food systems.

Hydroponic farming is the practice of growing crops without soil, which saves space. And while conventional methods require rainfall and irrigation, hydroponics requires very little water, meaning plantings can thrive regardless of weather conditions or season. “We can produce all year round,” explains Behailu Abreha, founder and managing director of PLC, an agricultural company in Mekelle and UNICEF partner on the project.

See the video:

An innovation to help combat food insecurity fueled by drought caused by El Niño

The new program is being implemented in Mekelle and central and southern Tigray, where children and families have long suffered the consequences of violent and prolonged civil conflict.

Agricultural yields in Tigray, already severely reduced by drought after several failed rainy seasons, have been wiped out once again, this time by drought caused by The boyan increasingly damaging meteorological phenomenon associated with climate change.

“This type of initiative will not only help prevent child malnutritionthis will enable families to grow vegetables at low cost,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban after learning about the project during a recent visit.

Members of 50 households received training in hydroponic growing techniques so they could start growing vegetables without soil.

Learn more about what UNICEF is doing to support vulnerable children and families in Ethiopia as the country faces multiple humanitarian crises.

Support the work of UNICEF. Donate today.