To ensure food security and non-seasonal food production in Nigeria, farmers like Samson Ogbole, Founder of SFarmLab, practice hydroponics. Although soilless farming is not a new phenomenon, it has only recently become popular in Nigeria.
Established in Abeokuta in 2014, Soilless Farmlab provides a comprehensive approach to farming, including training, farm and business consulting, farm management, and product supply. Samson Ogbole, the founder and team lead of Sfarmlab, explains the vision for his novel business and what the government should do to revitalize agriculture.
"Our vision is to produce food without relying on the seasons. We’ve realized that the seasonality of food production is one of the most fundamental problems with our agricultural system. Soilless farming allows us to produce food all year long without relying on the seasons, while also bringing the impact of climate change to our community."
"Because we supply everything the plant requires, its growth period is shorter than that of plants grown in soil. The difference is determined not only by our growing system but also by the seed we plant. Different seed companies have incorporated various qualities into their seeds (breeders), so they play a significant role in determining the maturity span. We are speeding up the process without interfering with the plants’ natural processes.'
"All the government needs to do is help those in agriculture succeed, and others will follow. Nobody advertised for oil and gas, banking, or entertainment, but as soon as people realized those in the industry were making money, they began subscribing. People should also keep in mind that, as a country, we must ensure that our food production is not seasonal because hunger is not."
Read the complete article at www.venturesafrica.com.