Once a struggling village in Egypt’s Beheira Governorate, Nagaa Aoun has achieved self-sufficiency in vegetables and a steady income through innovative rooftop farming.
The initiative was spearheaded a decade ago by Ragab Rabie, a former fisherman inspired by a video of rooftop farming in China.
After researching hydroponic methods, Rabie introduced a pilot project that overcame initial challenges, including the need for concrete-roofed homes. Loans helped villagers upgrade their homes and install hydroponic units.
Each unit, spanning 105 cm by 3 meters, produces 405 seedlings—equivalent to 175 square meters of traditional farmland—using significantly less water.
The project has reduced unemployment by 95 percent, with villagers enjoying better housing, clothing, and food.
Rabie sees rooftop farming as vital for Egypt’s future agriculture, given its limited arable land.
The villagers plan to expand the project to neighboring areas and collaborate with Chinese companies to enhance techniques.
Among the participants is Khaled Guwaida, who now runs a nursery supplying seeds and creating jobs for local youth. The initiative has even extended to Alexandria University, supporting research on agricultural innovations.
“We want to be a model for other villages,” said Guwaida, underscoring the community’s commitment to promoting food security across rural Egypt.