Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
NARI pushes Hydroponics farming
Lettuce grown using hydrophonics farming
Hydroponics is not new, but in Guyana it is an adaptation to climate change and is being practised worldwide. With urban households having to face space as a limiting factor, it provides a means where persons can have the opportunity to provide themselves with certain basic things. Explaining the process, Dr. Oudho Homenauth of the National Agricultural and Research Institute (NARI), stated that hydroponics is the cultivation of crops without soil, or by using a soilless culture. He pointed out that it can also be done in the hinterland communities which are being targeted by NARI, especially in those areas which are prone to flooding.
Pointing out that this method of farming has not been commercialised, he observed that the St. Stanislaus Farm had started this activity a number of years ago. There were a number of training sessions in which mostly women participated. Homenauth pointed out that NARI has since moved a little bit beyond that where a structure has more or less been established.
“We didn’t go for the hi-tech facility, (but) something we can replicate in various communities,” he stated. Working with other organisations, where technical support was given, a number of crops have been grown using soilless culture, nutrients and solutions.
Because the exercise is being carried out above ground, there is no chance of the crops being flooded, said Homenauth. He added that persons who are interested in practising this method of raising crops would find it easy, since they could use materials which are usually discarded. Plastic and other discarded containers can be used to grow crops.
What is currently being focused on is the raising of celery, lettuce, cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, poi and cauliflower.
Dr. Bissasar Chintamanie, Plant Scientist of NARI, says the method is simple and inexpensive. A mixture of white sand and paddy shells provide the medium for the plant to root. The nutrient solution, costing only $40 per litre is added each day during the watering process. Or alternatively, clean water (rain water) can be used and the nutrients added daily. It can be done under shade, with UV plastic and mesh preventing the sun’s radiation and insects from entering the enclosed shed, or it can be done under an open shed.
Explaining that the operation is on raised beds, especially in areas prone to flooding, he pointed out that it is also for use in areas where there is no arable land or where the soil is poor, and where commercial production is not possible.
Chintamanie pointed out that all the essential plant nutrients are in solution form, containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. He explained that the plants cannot take it up in the powdered form which is available, “So you have to make the solution and water it on a daily basis, in the morning… 40ml for each plant.”
Lettuce can be ready for harvest, from the time of planting the seed after 30 days. The cost is only $40 per plant, and lettuce sells at $100 a head.
Chintamanie said that the research facility is also examining the introduction of aquaphonics, where fish and plants will be grown together. The waste from the fish will go towards feeding the plants. He explained that the fish waste has a lot of nutrients needed by plants, and this can be used for growing leafy vegetables. However, this new farming method is only in the experimental stage. It has to be tested first to get all the data corrected.
“Within a month’s time you can reap a crop that is pesticide-free, disease-free and you can just pick and eat,” he concluded.
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