Traditional soil-grown crop production has worked well for thousands of years, but there is one fact that has placed strain on conventional agriculture: The human population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050. With that comes a demand that already stressed fields can not necessarily supply.
For Peter Chege, founder and owner of Hydroponics Africa, the niche for him was soilless farming. With this technology, Peter is hoping to bridge the gap between supply and demand by growing crops in highly controlled indoor environments instead of traditional outdoor methods. This hydroponics company which uses water (minimal) instead of soil, has in the recent past become highly popular among farmers because of the high-quality yields it offers.
“We accept individuals and groups who are interested in this kind of farming industry. We provide seminars and training that will lead them towards a sustainable way of life and an innovative source of livelihood,” Chege says.
Having worked as a chemical engineer, Chege has applied most of what he learned in his farm and he is now able to give farmers the desired nutrients that the crops require to thrive. He asserts that there are numerous benefits in implementing these practices aside from being growing a large number of plants in a limited space and without the use of soil.
“It is more environment-friendly than conventional farming because hydroponics uses less amount of water and refrains from applying using fertilizers and insecticides due to growing crops in an already controlled environment,” he adds.