Little did Dr Christine Walela know that when she moved to Australia 15 years ago, in 2009 to pursue her PhD in Soil Science and agriculture, she would eventually become one of the inspirational farmers practicing hydroponic farming on the continent.
The woman who hails from Chuka, Tharaka Nithi, can attest that her career in agriculture has taken her further than she'd have expected. When she arrived in Australia, she planned to study climate change and find ways to improve soil management to store more carbon. After finishing her studies, she got a job working for the South Australian government as a research agronomist.
"In 2019, I became psychologically unemployable as they say and I decided to start my own venture," she said, adding that she is a skilled expert in both protected cropping in the ground and also in hydroponics.
Dr. Walela explained that water is the currency of any farmer, which is why she found success in hydroponic farming. She chose hydroponics since it maximizes space within the farm, as plants grow vertically rather than spreading out horizontally. Additionally, hydroponic plants require less water since they are grown on an anchoring media which isn't necessarily soil that provides optimal conditions for growth.
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