Women-led hydroponic farm tackling water scarcity and food insecurity
Water conservation and food security. Shaymaa Mansour from Al-Karak in Jordan confronts the desert region’s water scarcity with her business, Healthy Farms, which uses hydroponic technology and employs women.
Amman, Jordan’s bustling and historic capital, is the country’s primary economic driver. However, with the focus of job opportunities centred around the urban hub, youth from more rural governorates often miss out on development opportunities.
In Al-Karak, a desert city located 40 kilometers to the south, around 20% of young people are unemployed and water scarcity significantly impacts agricultural productivity – the main source of income for many families.
Shaymaa Mansour is the young founder of Healthy Farm based in Al-Karak, and an advocate for women’s empowerment and climate solutions. Shaymaa’s startup leverages hydroponic agriculture, a modern farming that reduces water use by up to 90% compared to traditional farming.
“We tackle water scarcity through techniques that conserve water, while also contributing positively to the environment by abstaining from insecticide use. Additionally, as a woman leading this startup alongside two other female colleagues, we demonstrate the capabilities of women in leadership roles,” Shaymaa said.
Quoting the Egyptian poet Hafez Ibrahim, Shaymaa’s ethos is: “‘Mother is a school. If prepared well, she’ll create good generations to come’. [I believe] women continually prove themselves as heroes, balancing family, community and adapting to succeed.”
In 2021, Shyamaa became part of the You-Innovate 2 initiative for startups, provided by SPARK’s partner in Jordan, TTi as part of the Economic Resilience programme funded by the Qatar Fund for Development. Taking part in interactive training sessions covering entrepreneurial thinking, operations management for startups, project management and more, Shyamaa was able to refine her business idea into a viable startup.
Her business, Healthy Farms, has steadily expanded over the last two years, generating three job opportunities. Shaymaa is determined to enhance the farm’s productivity and extend the product reach beyond Al-Karak and into new markets.
“I believe there is still a significant gap in the entrepreneurship sector. Governments, organisations, donors, and civil society bodies need to consider offering grants specifically tailored for women. I know many women with fantastic ideas, and the only obstacle they face is the lack of seed funding.”
SPARK places climate action, one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, at the heart of its programmes. Working with our partners and donors, we are actively supporting entrepreneurs with green business ideas and helping small and medium-sized enterprises to adapt to more sustainable business models.