At just 24 years old, Chad Campbell is proving that technology and determination can transform agriculture. Through his business, C.N.C Hydroponics Estates, which he started on his rooftop, he produces fresh leafy greens year-round, currently focusing on lettuce. Mr. Campbell told the Jamaica Information Service that he identified a gap in the market caused by Jamaica's unpredictable weather.
"Farmers weren't able to produce certain leafy greens year-round due to the fact that sometimes of the year, we are facing extreme droughts or extreme heavy rains," he explained.
The business uses innovative hydroponic systems to overcome these limitations, ensuring consistent production regardless of weather conditions. Mr. Campbell's passion for agriculture began at an early age, when at age eight, he started to rear pigeons.
"I have a love for agriculture ever since I've known myself. I once had a rabbit farm where I had over 200 rabbits," he told JIS News. Mr. Campbell, who is also an insurance advisor, said launching his business was a process of trial and error.
© C.N.C Hydroponics Estates, Chad CampbellChad Campbell
"It took me one entire year before I could have mastered the way that I would have gotten one crop. That to me was not only about failure, but it was the learning curve. I needed that trial and error to be able to master the hydroponic technique," he said.
Starting with $2,000, he earned $37,000 from his first crop and reinvested the profits to expand his business. C.N.C Hydroponics uses the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system, which delivers nutrients through a thin water film to the plant roots.
"With hydroponics, you apply all those nutrients into the reservoir of water. The nutrients will then flow, like a film of water on the bottom of the PVC pipes where the roots of the seedlings would be, and it would provide all the essential nutrients and vitamins that the plant needs to grow," Mr. Campbell explained to JIS News.
"Hydroponics uses 90 per cent less water. [It also] eliminates the use of these harmful chemicals, harmful sprays that would be normally used in traditional farming," he added.
Mr. Campbell said that he has been sharing his knowledge with others.
"I introduced my cousin to this type of farming and I must say it's going well," he said, noting that others in the community have expressed interest in learning from him.
Beyond mentoring, CNC Hydroponics supplies restaurants and wholesale buyers, ensuring that the produce reaches local tables.
"We currently supply restaurants, have wholesale buyers that go back to the market and sell, and we do some amount of house-to-house deliveries," he explained.
Despite its advantages, Mr. Campbell faces challenges such as securing land, power outages, and crop diseases. He said that fungal diseases are treated organically using neem oil and baking soda. He further noted that "the biggest challenge currently is the acquisition of land. It has to be a plain [land]. It has to have driving access, access to electricity, and all these things."
Even though he's living in the cool hills of West Rural St. Andrew, where land is believed to be available, Mr. Campbell noted that the available land would be, "far from electricity sources, far from civilization."
Meanwhile, Mr. Campbell told JIS News that he expects his business to grow.
© C.N.C Hydroponics Estates, Chad Campbell
"In the next three to five years, C.N.C Hydroponics will be the most talked about. One of the largest distributors of greens in Jamaica. We would be growing much further going forward," he said.
He also views agriculture as a key solution to youth unemployment.
"There are a lot of unemployed persons in Jamaica. If these individuals were to venture into agriculture, then trust me, we would have so much surplus that Jamaica would be able to export food," he stated.
On the matter of his legacy, the young entrepreneur said, "I hope to leave behind not just a legacy but put a major footprint in Jamaica's economy as it relates to the exportation of agricultural produce."
Reflecting on resilience after Hurricane Melissa, he said, "[my farm] just represents the goodness of God and peace of mind. It would have been back even two months after the passing of Hurricane Melissa. So, it's just the goodness of God."
Mr. Campbell is also keen on collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining to expand outreach and teach communities about hydroponics.
"This is the way to decrease unemployment. There are still people to reach. So yes, I would definitely be interested in engaging with the ministry on these plans going forward," he said.
Source: Jamaica Information Service
