FIFTEEN farmers and four government officers have benefited from training in sustainable hydroponic production systems under the ‘Addressing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus’ (WEF) Project.

This was made possible through a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Government of Mexico, and the Government of Jamaica.

WEF is a sub-project of the Mexico-Caricom-FAO ‘Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean’ or Resilient Caribbean Initiative in short.

The project, which is funded by the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), aims to empower farmers with the tools and expertise to become more climate-resilient. The training has equipped farmers with new skills in hydroponics to help improve their yield.

Following their participation in the programme some farmers received solar-powered irrigation systems, and rainwater-harvesting and storage facilities, for sustainable open-field production.

Three persons from the group were also selected to receive solar-powered hydroponics systems, which will provide data for the Government.

Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Pearnel Charles Jr welcomed the initiative. He noted that sustainable solutions are critical for the development of the sector.

“Through our Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC) and other agencies we are putting in place sustainable hydroponics solutions that will address some of the challenges that we see in terms of floods and droughts,” he said.

“We need to have that mix between innovation and traditional and the types of techniques that will allow for us to increase production, increase productivity, and put in place operations to withstand what we know is coming in terms of the hurricanes, droughts and floods,” the minister added.

Charles Jr also encouraged the use of hydroponics for the average Jamaican who may not have a backyard garden.

“If you are in an urban space we encourage you to establish a small hydroponic system, vertical farming inside of your home. We will guide you and give you the support to do so. You can reach out to the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and they will certainly be excited to support you in terms of the best practices and the guidelines on how best for you to become involved in growing smart and eating smart – wherever you are,” he stated.

The main features of the hydroponics innovation include a recirculating system which enables the controlled distribution of nutrient solution via a solar-powered pump.

The nutrient solution is transported throughout the system to the plant’s roots, then the excess nutrient is again collected in a reservoir and recirculated through the system.

This process reduces the amount of water and nutrients used. It also lessens the economic and environmental impacts associated with nutrient leaching that can occur in unsustainable open-field production.

FAO National Project Coordinator for Jamaica Princess Lee said the project is expected to increase the productivity of farmers while moving away from the use of fossil fuels, by using solar equipment.

“We’re looking at having precision irrigation but we have farmers using drip irrigation equipment. We have been helping farmers with using drip irrigation equipment, as well as soil monitoring tools, so that they can be able to say, ‘The plant has enough water now; I need not put any more water on it,’ ” Lee stated.

“We are also training farmers in nutrition management. We are teaching them how to analyse the crop, assess the needs of the crop at different stages, feed the crop accordingly without wasting fertilisers, and to get the best results as well,” she added.

The use of technology in farming continues to be encouraged, and Lee stated more devices are also being introduced.

“Tensiometers, which monitor the soil moisture in the ground; and pH and EC meters are being introduced, and they are being trained to use them. They are also getting timers on their irrigation system. This means they will not just turn on the pipe and let water run. They know that an hour of watering gives you a litre of water for the plants,” she said.

“They set their time and then the system will automatically turn off after an hour, or whatever time they set it to. Those are some of the strategies that we are putting in place to help to reduce fossil fuels, increase production and productivity, and to be more climate-resilient,” she added.

Meanwhile project beneficiary, onion farmer from Amity Hall in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Dwayne Howell said the introduction to sustainable hydroponics production changed his perspective as to how to approach growing crops on his farm.

“I went to a few training sessions and learned a lot about hydroponics. I was one of those who were selected to get one of the hydroponics systems. I got some training and I am now waiting to put that into practice. I hope to see some changes in terms of production,” he said.