Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #32

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Agriculture has no doubt been one of the moving forces in many countries' economies including Nigeria. As it is what brings the food to the table, During recent times, traditional agricultural methods have been facing different challenges to meet the food demands of the population, hence the need for a modern agricultural methods to meet the demands of the population in a more effective, faster and convenient way, talking about modern agricultural method, we have methods like Aquaponics, hydroponics, vertical farming and so on.
For the purpose of these writing, let's talk about vertical farming

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WHAT IS VERTICAL FARMING

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Vertical farming is a type of the modern agricultural method which involves cultivating crops in stacked layers, it is often carried out within controlled indoor environments like warehouses or specially designed buildings. Instead of spreading out over vast lands in the traditional method, plants grow upwards, utilizing vertical space efficiently. This method often employs a kind of soilless techniques, where plants receive nutrients through water or mist systems.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VERTICAL FARMING

1. It aids the efficient use of space: With the process of stacking crops vertical upwards, farmers can produce crops in large quantities, this process is very good in urban areas where there is limited availability of land. This process enables the farmers to produce more food than in the traditional methods to meet the market demands.

2. All-year round production: Farming in controlled environments allows continuous production irrespective of the external weather conditions, thereby ensuring an uninterrupted all year round food supply.

3. It reduces water usage: Water used in vertical farming is less compared to the traditional method, as water used in recirculated and reused within the system, thereby reducing cost.

4. It reduces the rate of pest attack: Farming in a controlled enclosed environment are less susceptible to pest attack, this reduces the need for chemical pesticides allowing the farm produce food safe for consumption.

5. Proximity to urban areas: Closeness to urban centers reduces transportation cost and reduces the rate at which goods spoil in the process of moving it from the farm to the markets.

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CHALLENGES FACED IN VERTICAL FARMING

1. High capital: Setting up a vertical farming requires a large investment in infrastructure, technology and energy systems to run the farms

2. Energy consumption problem: Maintaining the required light, temperature, and humidity levels requires a relatively large amount of energy, leading to higher operational costs, this will be difficult to operate.

3. Issue of Technical Know-how: The operation and management of vertical farming requires special skills and knowledge, and the expertrate in this regard may not be readily available in some regions for this to be possible.

4. Limitations of crop: Vertical farming is a system that is more suited for some green plants and herbs, cultivation of certain crops like maize, rice etc, remains a challenge in these areas.

5. Acceptance by the population: Consumers in this case, may be hesitant to accept produce grown in non-traditional settings, with the mindset that crops cultivated with technology are most causes of the newly developed sickness and diseases emerging thereby affecting market demand.

CONCLUSION

Vertical farming as a modern agricultural method introduces an avenue for sustainable agriculture, especially in urban areas facing limited land availability. While it offers several benefits, it is important to address the associated challenges to ensure its viability and acceptance. As technology advances and awareness grows, vertical farming could play an important role in securing food supplies for generations to come.

I would love to invite @etoro @promisezella and @imohmitch to take part