In a nation consistently plagued by water scarcity that can cripple farming, one player in the agricultural sector is urging more Jamaicans to embrace hydroponics. The relatively new company, Fresca Farm, is championing this soil-less method of cultivating crops, highlighting its numerous benefits.
Fresca Farm's Director, Miguel Garnett, explains that hydroponic farming involves "farming with water and nutrient-based solutions, which can be organic or regular fertilizer."
He notes that this method can be used to grow a variety of plants, such as leafy greens, vegetables, spices, and vines.
"The only thing that does not grow in hydroponics is tubers, like sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, yams, and similar crops—anything that needs to be grown underground. But anything else that grows above ground and does not develop into a large tree can be grown with hydroponics," Mr. Garnett tells JIS in an interview. The main benefit of using this method, he points out, is that it minimizes the amount of water needed throughout the plant's life cycle.
"With hydroponics, the water in the system constantly recycles. When you plant in soil and water the plant, the water soaks into the soil, and the plant only uses a limited amount of that water. In hydroponics, the system is not constantly running, so whenever the system activates, the plants use what they need, and the unused water returns to a tank, where it is continuously recycled. Hence, it saves a lot of water," Mr. Garnett outlines.
© Fresca Farms
Another benefit of hydroponics is that plants grow at a faster rate compared to traditional methods.
"Due to the growth pace in hydroponics, farmers can see a quicker return on their investment, meaning they get a faster yield compared to planting in the ground. In hydroponics, the nutrients and water are readily available to the plant and are easier for the plant to absorb, resulting in a faster growth rate compared to soil. When you apply fertilizer to soil, it must be broken down before the plant can absorb it. With hydroponics, that process is eliminated, and nutrients go directly to the plant immediately," he explains.
In practical terms, this means that a commonly grown plant like lettuce, which typically has a growth cycle of about 12 weeks, can be ready in as little as six weeks if grown hydroponically.
While setting up a hydroponic farm requires an initial investment to procure materials and towers, Mr. Garnett emphasizes that it is not a difficult undertaking.
"Information on hydroponics is readily available on the Internet. Anyone planning to get into hydroponics should do a bit of research, as it's not difficult to understand. Once you do your research and set up your farm, you're good to go," he tells JIS News.
Individuals can set up their own hydroponic equipment by sourcing the parts or purchasing ready-made solutions suitable for their homes or farms.
Fresca Farm offers hydroponic systems starting at $56,000, allowing individuals to grow up to 50 plants at once.
Mr. Garnett notes that hydroponic farming is accessible to everyone, even those without extensive yard space.
"We manufacture the farms from scratch and don't stick to one conventional design. We make aeroponic towers, A-frames, flatbeds, and floating systems that can be installed on a wall. So, if you have no land, we can set up the hydroponic farm on a wall. If you have a balcony, we can place an aeroponic tower there. Space is not an issue. We design the farm to suit the customer's needs," Mr. Garnett says.
To emphasize that hydroponics is for everyone, Mr. Garnett shares his own background in information technology (IT).
"I have a bachelor's degree in information and communications technology and a diploma in Graphic Presentation from the University of Central England," he says.
"I was always interested in farming, but I'm not one for dirt or standing in the sun. So, even though I had an interest in agriculture, I never ventured into it because of those reasons," Mr. Garnett adds.
He explains that his interest in farming led him to try poultry rearing initially, but it didn't work out. However, his interest remained, and he decided to give farming another shot.
"I thought to myself, if there was an easier, more efficient way to farm, I would get into it. I have a friend who farms, and when I visited his farm, I saw the challenges he faced. I thought, if I could mitigate the sun, dirt, and these challenges, I would get into farming," he tells JIS News.
"I went online, did some research, and discovered hydroponics. I knew nothing about it, so I took a course and got my first system," he explains.
That initial system in 2023 has grown into a successful business, with Mr. Garnett and his team building hydroponic systems for farmers across the island.
Fresca Farm is currently in a phase of expansion, with its Director looking to build an automated climate-controlled farm system in St. Mary.
"Fresca Farm aims to bring new innovations to Jamaica in farming. Not just with hydroponics, but we're looking to establish a full indoor climate-controlled setup," Mr. Garnett says.
He adds that Fresca Farm aspires to be a leader and innovator in hydroponic farming in Jamaica.
Source: Jamaica Information Service