Looking to kickstart your farming journey or to diversify your operation? Hydroponics offers an exciting pathway for new farmers, and could be a way for commercial farmers to diversify in relatively small spaces.
Imagine growing fresh produce all year-round without having to wait for the perfect season. That’s right. No more battling weeds, or tilling soil, and less worrying about pests and diseases.
Here are a few articles that can help you start your hydroponic journey and inspire your future endeavours.
Hydroponics: Here’s what you need to know
The article discusses the rising popularity of hydroponic farming as a sustainable solution to future agricultural challenges, particularly in South Africa.
It highlights the importance of conserving freshwater resources and adapting to population growth while improving crop yields. Byron Booysen, an award-winning hydroponics farmer from Kraaifontein, Western Cape, emphasises the versatility and efficiency of hydroponic farming.
Experts outline do’s and don’ts of hydroponic farming
We look at insights shared during the KPR Conference and Trading’s hydroponics conference in KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on the dos and don’ts of hydroponic farming. Experts emphasised the need for a cautious approach, patience, and substantial financial investment when starting a hydroponics project.
Mustaq Hoosen, senior project manager at the KwaZulu-Natal Agribusiness Development Agency, highlighted the importance of conducting a cost-benefit analysis and understanding market demands before venturing into hydroponics. He cautioned against starting too big without a clear market strategy, urging farmers to do thorough research and avoid unnecessary debt.
Some specific applications:
Living wall systems: A space where veggies grow vertically
As cities grow, more people need food. However, space for farming is limited in cities. Building facades can offer a solution for growing food. A landscape architect tells us about her research – cultivating traditional African vegetables on walls.
Set up a hydroponic hop yard using these five tips
The article profiles Khaya Maloney, the founder of Afrileap, South Africa’s pioneering hydroponic hop farm located on a rooftop in Johannesburg. Maloney’s journey into hydroponic farming was inspired by a visit to a rooftop farm in New York and a subsequent realisation of the lack of urban hydroponic hop farming in South Africa.
Maloney also shares five essential elements for successful hydroponic hop farming.
Something for the podcast listeners:
And finally, some inspiration:
Number-savvy #SoilSista aces hydroponics
Refilwe Mokgohloa, a former accountant with a successful career abroad, returned to South Africa with a vision to transform her family’s 8.5-hectare plot into a thriving hydroponic cucumber farm. Despite initial struggles, Mokgohloa and her family were determined to make their farming venture a success.
Agripreneur 101: Grow your own herbs hydroponically
When Basil Williams first started farming with herbs, he used a small space in his parents’ backyard in Kylemore in the Western Cape. Now, his one-hectare farm in Stellenbosch employs six people and produces around three tonnes of herbs a month.
Human’s trio of agri technologies brim with solutions
Henning Human, an innovator with a background in microbiology, has developed cutting-edge hydroponic and aquaculture systems under his company, Aztec Agri Systems. Inspired by his family’s legacy of conservation farming, Human aims to revolutionise agricultural production in South Africa by maximising space efficiency and sustainability.
READ: Rising stars of agriculture to meet at Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba
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