Hydroponics is increasingly being used for production agriculture in Kenya, but it’s also gaining traction in urban settings, by those interested in growing their own food. The adaptability of the technology is winning converts for a variety of reasons, including its efficient water use, and the small space required for production. And many believe it could help feed a growing world population.
The World Bulletin reports:
[Kirogi] Mwangi believes the new mode of farming could help feed a global population expected to hit 9.5 billion by 2050, according to UN estimates.
“Hydroponics can be a solution to food insecurity, especially in Africa. Kenyan communities – and East African communities – can adopt this method, especially where the soil is not tillable but they get rainfall,” Mwangi contended.
Joyce Mativo is a nurse who lives in Buruburu, a middle-class area in Nairobi’s Eastlands district. She’s new to hydroponics (she learned about it on TV), and is enthusiastic about the possibilities.
“I love agriculture; I love farming,” she told. “But you can’t do this in Nairobi due to the lack of space. They installed my system, which has seven stories, for 5,000 Kenya shillings [roughly $54]. I grow tomatoes, kale and spinach, which saves me time and money,” she said. “The crops mature faster [with hydroponics] when compared to growing them on a farm.”
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