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  • 21 hours ago
Residents of Senegal's capital face rising food prices and supply problems. Using terraces and rooftops for urban farming could cut costs and cool down homes.
Transcript
00:00In Dakar, Senegal's rapidly growing capital, green space is becoming harder to find.
00:06And there's little room left for traditional vegetable gardens.
00:10But there is unused space right above people's heads, on rooftops and terraces across the city.
00:17When Maimouna Cham looked at her own terrace, she saw an opportunity.
00:22She's a trained engineer and interior designer.
00:27I asked myself, what could be more beautiful than flowers?
00:31I started with just one plant and then it became an addiction.
00:35Little by little, my terrace filled up.
00:38What began with a single plant is now a thriving terrace garden.
00:43Today she grows herbs like thyme and oregano, along with pigeon peas, tomatoes and other vegetables.
00:57I especially like cherry tomatoes, nana mint, lemongrass and lots of aromatic herbs.
01:02That's what I use every day in my cooking.
01:05I'm a big fan of cherry tomatoes, so of course I grow them in my garden.
01:10Carmel Market in the heart of Dakar is one of the city's most popular markets.
01:14But fresh vegetables are increasingly expensive.
01:19Many shoppers are buying only what they absolutely need.
01:26Sometimes I buy smaller quantities.
01:28Instead of a kilo, I'll buy only 500 grams.
01:31I need some kinds of vegetables to stay healthy.
01:43Mayimuna isn't alone.
01:46Rooftop gardening is gaining ground.
01:48Programs run by the city of Dakar and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization
01:54have already trained more than 10,000 residents in micro-gardening techniques.
02:00Today she shares gardening tips on social media, like how to prepare a fresh, tasty salad from her harvest.
02:11The garden has changed more than what's on our plate.
02:14It's made the terrace more welcoming.
02:20It helps our air quality.
02:22Dakar is a very dusty city.
02:24The plants give off oxygen, and we need that.
02:31With their gardens, people like Mayimuna Tsham are bringing more green to Dakar.
02:36One rooftop at a time.
02:42The garden has changed.
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