In January 2016, IOM supported the establishment of a community greenhouse that will benefit an estimated 3,000 members in the community of Al Debeibat, in Al Qoz locality in South Kordofan. The area had witnessed an influx of returnees in 2011, when communities that had followed their cattle near Kadugli returned to their areas of origin after conflict erupted. The intervention will both enhance the nutritional and food security profile of local communities, and provide them with an opportunity for income generation through sale of seedlings, products and fertilizers in local markets. The advantage of growing vegetables in the inside area is to reduce the amount of seeds needed and ensure the products enter the market earlier than those of other farmers.

Hassan Mahmoud Sulaiman Zaki is 52 years old and a member of the host community in Algardood, Al Debeibat Administrative Unit in Al Qoz Locality, South Kordofan State; and is now the President of the Agricultural Cooperative in charge of managing the newly established greenhouse in the village. Hassan outlined that “[his].. role is to organize and divide tasks between the 30 current members of the cooperative, organize the schedule of irrigation and plantation. We plan to welcome more members in the cooperative, and register with the Ministry of Agriculture to access further services and support”.

Al Qoz locality is a locality prioritized for intervention in the response to El Nino and the greenhouse is served by a drip irrigation system connected to a water tank that was rehabilitated by local partner Sudanese Development Call Organization (NIDAA). The project was implemented in January-April 2016 by NIDAA and is generously funded by the Government of Canada under the project “Establish Livelihoods and Rapid Response to Emergency Needs for Crisis-affected Population in South Kordofan (SK), West Kordofan (WK) and Blue Nile (BN) States”. The NIDAA grant was USD 55,000 and it included: 1) establishment of greenhouse and training of committee, 2) refresher training of active community animal health workers to support animal health services, and 3) construction of a slaughter terrace to facilitate slaughtering in a safe and hygienic environment.

For more information, please contact: Letizia Dell’Asin, Programme Coordinator, Transition and Reintegration Unit. Email: ldellasin@iom.int, Tel: 0922406689