Energy News
FARM NEWS
Algerian women pioneer eco-friendly farming
Algerian women pioneer eco-friendly farming
by AFP Staff Writers
Algiers (AFP) June 23, 2024

Ibtissem Mahtout and Amira Messous pick fresh strawberries and tomatoes on the eco-friendly smallholding the two women are working near Algiers, a pioneering initiative in Algeria's male-dominated agricultural sector.

After graduating from university four years ago, they left the capital and started working on the small patch of land in Douaouda, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) to the west.

"As soon as I'm in the field I'm happy," said Messous, 28, holding a bundle of fresh beetroot.

"From morning to night, we're here. To me, it's the most beautiful job in the world."

The plant ecology and biodiversity graduates now run one of the country's rare ecological plots of land, where the produce is grown in harmony with the broader ecosystem and without using pesticides.

Messous said it was challenging at first to "have to integrate" into a sector in which most people who work the land are men.

According to local media, as of last October just four per cent of workers registered with the Chamber of Agriculture in Tipaza province where their land is were women.

But some "male farmers are happy to see educated women working the land", said Messous.

"They take the time to explain things to us, and it brings more value to their own work."

Her 29-year-old partner, Mahtout, recalls that they launched the project with just 60,000 Algerian dinars (around $445) -- "enough to buy basic tools" -- after renting the patch of land.

- Selling on Instagram -

With the help of Torba, an association that promotes ecological farming in Algeria, they "learned to plant, to sow, to work the soil".

Today, their 1,300-square-metre farm even employs one male worker full-time -- and up to eight part-timers at harvest time.

When they are not in the fields themselves, the two women make full use of social media to sell their produce.

On Instagram, they advertise their baskets of seasonal fruits and vegetables each week, and take orders for the produce on WhatsApp.

Come Friday, the first day of the Algerian weekend, clients pick up their orders at a larger farm in nearby Zeralda, where other smallholders also sell produce including flowers.

"We want to eat something healthy from time to time," said Fatma Zohra, a 72-year-old loyal customer and subscriber to the small farm's social media account.

"I found these girls very nice, and when I discovered they sell to subscribers, I wanted to encourage them."

Each week, the pair sell between 10 and 30 baskets of fruit and vegetables that are in season.

The farm in Zeralda where they market their produce is also educational, and runs themed programmes for children.

In addition to the Friday farmers' market, it is also a meeting space for local families and offers cooking classes, entertainment and cultural events.

Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FARM NEWS
Central China farmers face crop failures in 'withering' drought
Hudian, China (AFP) June 19, 2024
Farmer Bao Mingchen gestured to a dry pipe where water typically irrigates a patch of crops, the soil now cracked under a drought hitting China's vast agricultural hinterland. "Everything is dry," he said as he strode along the perimeter of a rice paddy near his home in Hudian, a humble township in the central Chinese province of Henan. The rice plants still shine a radiant green but Bao, puffing on a cigarette, told AFP that the local farmers are beginning to worry about how much longer they ca ... read more

FARM NEWS
Google Maps deletes AI photos of Austrian landmarks after climate change

Coordinating an airborne lab across the globe with NASA's earth science project office

Indonesia uses cloud seeding as rain hampers new city's construction

GOES-U Mission Ready for Launch Following Successful Review

FARM NEWS
Green light for Galileo 2nd Generation satellite design

Europe's Largest Ground Segment Upgraded Without User Disruption

Magic Lane secures 3 million euro to enhance location intelligence capabilities

China Encourages BeiDou System Integration in Electric Bicycles

FARM NEWS
Indonesia palm oil firm accused of illegal deforestation

US urges EU to delay anti-deforestation law

Lula calls for 'agility' in combatting Amazon deforestation crime

Carbon credits protecting forests use flawed calculations: study

FARM NEWS
Sky's the limit for biofuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Reduces Non-CO2 Emissions

Vast Gets Approval for Solar Methanol Plant in Port Augusta

Singapore shipper claims milestone with bio-methanol refuelling

FARM NEWS
Vortex Structures Uncovered in Solar Cell and Lighting Materials

2 solar projects to supply power for 5 military installations

Chinese Premier Li targets clean energy in Australia visit

Rice Lab Reports Significant Advances in Perovskite Solar Cell Stability

FARM NEWS
Why US offshore wind power is struggling - the good, the bad and the opportunity

Robots enhance wind turbine blade production at NREL

Offshore wind turbines may reduce nearby power output

Wind Energy Expansion Planned for China's Rural Areas

FARM NEWS
Australia gives largest coal power plant two-year lifeline

US plans to end leasing in its largest coal-producing region

In coal country Bulgaria, a losing battle against EU Green Deal

Banks slow to limit coal financing: NGO

FARM NEWS
Hong Kong charges two under new national security law

China says deputy propaganda chief under graft investigation

Four Americans stabbed in northeastern China

Millions of Chinese students start exams in biggest 'gaokao' ever

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.