Hydroponics as a Solution to Qatar Farming
Published on by Dusko Balenovic, Previous Network Manager at The Water Network in Technology
A three-day festival for improving agriculture was held In Umm Salal in Qatar. Hydroponics was presented as possible solution for farming in water scarce region of Middle East.
Yusuf Khalid Al Khulaifi (centre), Director of Agriculture Affairs, and other officials at the hydroponic farming stand at Al Mazrouah yard in Umm Salal. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
Hydroponics is a soilless plant growing method, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. The plant roots may be in contact with the solution only with their roots or they may be supported by a medium.
The main advantages of this type of agriculture, compared to the traditional methods in soil, are saving water, faster growth, more yield, no soil processing, controlled nutrients doses and easier health control.
The festival was organized by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment with the goal of promoting hydroponics due to its many advantages in comparison to traditional agriculture methods.
Farmers who grow their fruit and vegetables using hydroponics have recently been given a marketing platform in shopping malls.
Ali Ahmad Saad Al Kaabi, owner of Global Farm for Agricultural Supplies says that his 500 m2 hydroponics farm had produced 70 t of fruit and vegetables in a year.
The advantage of hydroponics is having to deal with less pests and crop diseases and the water consumption is 70% lower.
He says he uses a particular fertilizer made of coconut leaf from India.
Hydroponics is especially encouraged to be used in small projects as it is extremely efficient and not too expensive.
The production increase in comparison to traditional farming is 7 times greater as it drastically saves space and enables 8000 plans to be grown in 36 m2, instead of mere 1300. In addition to this, the plants live longer and are able to produce more yield.
Installing large-scale hydroponics equipment may be initially expensive but in the long-run it is profitable. Hydroponics produces horticultural crops where it is impossible to do so. The development and use of controlled environment agriculture and hydroponics is beneficial in many communities and may be the future of feeding the growing world population.
Read more about hydroponics techniques here
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