Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) students Grecian Bistance and Martin Chirwa have built an Automated Greenhouse equipped with a hydroponic system to revolutionize sustainable farming practices in the country.
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil.
Aged 23, Grecian is a Third Yeart Bachelors of Agriculture Engineering and his home area is Batson Village Traditional Authority Ngabu in Chikwawa District.
His partner Martin, who is 23 years old and hails from Malungo Village, Traditional Authority Kyungu in Karonga is doing Bachelors in Engineering Irrigation at the same campus and is also in his third year.
In an interview with ProjectM, Grecian said this is a modern state of the art facility showcasing advanced farming practices.
He added that the hydroponic system in a Greenhouse uses smart agricultural technology as it involves planting vegetables in a nutrient rich water solution without soil using different mediums such as PVC pipes and many more.
Said Grecian: “this innovative project promises to revolutionize local agriculture by integrating automation technology into green farming house farming practices. This software has the integration of sensors and control systems which does the precise monitoring and adjustment of the environmental conditions and ensures optimal growth conditions for crops throughout the year.”
On his part, Martin said with innovative growing methods local farmers will have high yields of tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, Chinese cabbage among others and they are ready for harvest in just a period of six weeks.
He also said hydroponic farming can also be used in urban environments where space is limited. The system protects young seedlings from diseases and pests, reduces exposure to fungi and pesticides, to say the list.
Martin further said he wants the system to become commercialized.
He said in certain regions in Israel where land is scarce the system has emerged as a sustainable and innovative solution to address the challenges of limited space.
Grecian and Martin can be reached at: 0998 554 722 or email: gbistance06183@gmail.com.
Let me thank all for the support and effort rendered to come up with this project. It has been all that were there to create conducive environment to work in. Thanks to the reporter. Hope to see more coming ahead of us. Stay turned.