Samaila Ilu Director Naerls |
On Wednesday 13 April 2016, the Executive Director of
NAERLS, Dr. Ismaila Y. Ilu, flagged off a 3-day hands-on training on Hydroponic
for its extension staff.
The training, which was held at the NAERLS
headquarter, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was one of the products of
partnership between the Institute and Grandeur Africa, Nairobi Kenya. Before
this training, there were series of meetings and pilot studies on the
potentials of hydroponics, especially in livestock production and backyard
gardening in Nigeria.
In recent years, several challenges,
such as the devastating effects of climate change, prolonged dry-spells,
dwindling soil fertility, unhealthy competition for lands due to population
pressure, and persistent farmers/ herdsmen conflict, are pushing scientists to
explore ways of augmenting conventional farming methods towards boosting
agricultural productivity. In addition, recent research findings in Nigeria have adduced the need to
expand the agricultural frontiers for more sustainable production. These led to
the development of novel technologies for improving agricultural performance as
well as the livelihoods of farmers. Over the years, for example, such
technologies as Drought-tolerant and striga-tolerant maize varieties, vitamin
A-enriched cassava and maize varieties, extra-early maturing crop varieties,
among others, were developed and deployed to Nigerian farmers. In this long
list of technologies comes hydroponics.
The word, hydroponic, comes from Latin
and means working water—for while
“hydro” means water, “ponos” means labour. With specific regard to agriculture,
therefore, people have defined the term as ‘the art of growing plants with
water-like solution, or without soil. This growing of plants in a nutrient solution
root medium is today’s growing area of commercial food production. The process
may include sand, gravel, rock wool or liquid, with added nutrients but without
the use of soil.
How this process works without soil is quite
simple: a plant, given exactly what it needs, when it needs it, in the amount
that it needs, will be as healthy as genetically possible. Ensuring this is
easy with hydroponics. In the traditional use of soil, this is a bit more
difficult. With hydroponics, the plants are grown in an inert growing medium
and a perfectly balanced pH adjusted nutrient solution is delivered to the
roots in a highly soluble form. Is it possible then that hydroponics can help
solve the list of field problems identified by research in Nigeria over the years?
No comments:
Post a Comment