Sawa is known for its clean water and various types of trees. The Sawa seasonal river that extends for long kilometers makes a forest area in the east ward of the camp. After the establishment of Sawa as a military training center, a department concerned with the plantation activities was formed. Since then, a variety of trees have been planted in the camp and its environs.

“The department works to make green Sawa and the plantation process has been part of the development activities here,” said head of the department of plantation. At first the seedlings were brought from Akurdet, Barentu and other places. But when the department was formed, it started to provide the camp with seedlings that are developed in its nursery. Some of the common plants include: lemon, papaya, gum-arabic tree, mim, guava, rubber tree, moringa and others.

For instance, the plantation of gum-arabic tree has two main purposes: one is to protect the camp from sand storm (camsin). The second and most important is harvesting the fluid-like product of the tree that is used for the manufacturing of glass, and as an ingredient for coca cola. There are more than 50,000 gum-arabic tree planted in Sawa and its environs.

According to the department, since the tree has an important economic benefit, its plantation is increasing from time to time. For instance, Sudan exports gum-arabic to the United States through which it gains large amount of hard currency. Based on such benefit, the plan is to plant as many gum-arabic as possible in Sawa and other places for export purposes.

The plantation of lemon trees is also one of the biggest activities in Sawa. The nursery supplies all the divisions in the camp with lemon seedlings. Now, almost the entire camp has lemon trees and is able to benefit from its fruits. There are about 3,000 mature lemon trees in Sawa at present.

There were also lemon planting activities that were carried out during the Second Eri-Youth Festival in 2006. Eritrean youths from abroad and inside the country planted about 3,500 lemon plants in about 12 hectares in the environs of Sawa.

The plantation of palm tree is also one of the projects the department is working on at the moment. About 3,500 palm trees will be planted in the streets of Sawa and different parts of the camp.

On the activities of planting trees in Sawa, the main shortage, however, is the lack of water lines. The trees in the streets are watered with water tankers and some times there is shortage of water.

The fattening of animals--cattle, sheep, goats and pigs--is also conducted there. The aim of this project is to provide the camp, and especially students of the Warsay-Yekealo Secondary School, with meat. The department first buys the animals from the villagers; fatten them in the camp. Pig fattening has been proved important and the department is working on it.

Another important objective of the department is the plantation of vegetables. The department raises tomatoes, onion, green pepper and other vegetables for domestic consumption. The plan of making Sawa benefit from its produce has now reached a turning point. Every type of vegetable is grown there and little is bought from outside.

The plantation activity in Sawa is encouraging not only because of the role it plays, but also due to the interest and motivation of all the members in the camp. Individual motivation for planting trees is popular among members of the camp. It is common to see people watering and taking care of the tree that give shade from the sun.

Although the nursery makes such considerable contribution to the camp, it lacks a laboratory and skilled manpower. Most of the activities are carried out only with the hard work of its members. If more attention is given to the plantation’s activities, much could be gained in the future.

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