How to Grow Vegetables with Climate-Smart Method in Nigeria

This agritech article will shows us How to Grow Vegetables with Climate-Smart Method in Nigeria, reference will be drawn from farmer Simi, a soilless farmer in Ogun state, and a student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

As the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, and we will need to produce more food to feed everyone. Agricultural technology can help us to do this by increasing crop yields, improving crop quality, and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.

Agricultural technology is being used in a variety of ways to improve the production and quality of vegetables. Some of the most common technologies include:

• Precision agriculture: This uses sensors and data analytics to monitor crops and apply inputs, such as water and fertilizer, more precisely. This can lead to increased yields and improved crop quality.
• Protected cultivation: This uses greenhouses or tunnels to protect crops from pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions. This can extend the growing season and improve yields.
• Hydroponics: This is a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich solution. This can be used to grow vegetables in areas with poor soil quality or limited water resources.
• Vertical farming: This is a method of growing vegetables in vertically stacked layers. This can be used to grow vegetables in urban areas or in areas with limited land.
• Genetic engineering: This is the process of using genetic engineering to create crops that are resistant to pests, diseases, or herbicides. This can lead to increased yields and reduced reliance on pesticides.

How to Grow Vegetables with Climate-Smart Method in Nigeria

How to Grow Vegetables with Climate-Smart Method, Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich solution. The roots of the plants are suspended in the solution, which provides them with the water and nutrients they need to grow. Hydroponics can be used to grow a variety of plants, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. This is exactly climate-smart technology employ by farmer Simi, who was able to grow over 1000 lettuce plant using hydroponics method, according to her ” hydroponics majorly which is the growing of plants using the water medium either directly inside nutrient water or inside substrates (like cocopeat and rice hull, vermiculite, etc) which are irrigated with nutrient water. This tech is way easier than conventional farming.”

Simi also explained the impact of this method on climate change, she said, “Soilless farming is climate-smart. There are no harmful emissions from the farm; this method helps to maximize water so there’s no water wastage that leads to an increase in the soil water or pollution of the soil water table, and no destruction of the soil activities as we don’t plant directly on the soil, no application of excess nutrients, insecticides or pesticides. It is a very safe method for growing crops.”

There are many benefits to using hydroponics, including:

• Increased yields: Hydroponic plants can grow faster and larger than soil-grown plants.
• Improved quality: Hydroponic plants are often more nutritious than soil-grown plants.
• Reduced water usage: Hydroponics uses less water than traditional soil-based agriculture.
• Reduced environmental impact: Hydroponics can help to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture by reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

Hydroponics can be used in a variety of settings, including:

• Indoors: Hydroponics can be used indoors to grow plants year-round, regardless of the weather.
• Outdoors: Hydroponics can be used outdoors in greenhouses or other protected environments.
• Vertically: Hydroponics can be used to grow plants vertically, which can save space.

Hydroponics is a growing trend in agriculture, and it is becoming increasingly popular as people become more aware of the benefits of this method of growing plants. If you are interested in learning more about hydroponics, there are many resources available online.

Types of hydroponic systems:

• Deep water culture (DWC): This is the simplest type of hydroponic system. The roots of the plants are suspended in a nutrient-rich solution that is constantly circulated.
• Ebb and flow: This system is similar to DWC, but the nutrient solution is pumped into the growing bed and then allowed to drain back into a reservoir.
• Nutrient film technique (NFT): This system uses a thin film of nutrient solution to bathe the roots of the plants.
• Aeroponics: This system uses a fine mist of nutrient solution to spray the roots of the plants.
• Wicking: This system uses a wick to transport nutrient solution from a reservoir to the growing bed.