http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/ista/ista6 ... df/676.pdfA comparison of all three cropping systems showed that batch and staggered production of basil in an aquaponic system were comparable and both aquaponic crops were approximately three times more productive than field production (Table 2). Annual
projected yield was 25.0, 23.4 and 7.8 kg/m2 for batch, staggered and field production, respectively. Annual projected yield for the system was 5,341 kg for batch production and 5,008 kg for staggered production. However, batch production was not sustainable with the current fish output, and nutrient deficiencies would render much of the harvest unmarketable.
Fresh basil with stems sells for $22.00/kg in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Therefore, gross income from staggered production would be US$515/m2/year and US$110,210/system/year compared to field production with gross income of US$172/m2/year and US$36,808/year for the same production area. Compared to field production, the aquaponic system would save substantial labor associated with weeding but would require additional labor for seedling replacement due to mortality. Total income from the system would be US$134,245 when fish are included. The basil would generate 4.6 times more income than the fish.
In another paper, there was a caveat that marketing all of the basil was not feasible, due to population constraints. One of the laws of business is critical mass- In business-speak, it means having enough customers or market share to be profitable. For commercial adventures, you must sell what you grow and make sure you are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges- you can't use UVI's pricing because it is different depending on location, market type (wholesale, retail) and style (contract, broker, farmers market, farmers stand and so forth).
Marketing is the largest learning curve for me, which is why I'm leaning towards Farmers Market for retail and a broker for wholesale when volume picks up. One thing that I should tell is that I can qualify for an operating ag loan up to $300,000, through the USDA Ag Loan Program, if I can prove commerical viability (Sales and net profit) and I only need one season's proof. After three years, I qualify for the other loan programs, which is what I am aiming for to fund my commercial system. By that time, my 2nd prototype commercial system will have proven viability or not and whether I can move forward with the full scale commercial system that I have designed. Each layer added to the system(greenhouses, heat, renewable energy, economies of scale, larger design, labor costs), of course, adds to the system's costs, complexities and potential commerical non-viability and that is why my system is designed into three stages.
The loans are something to think about for the rest of you, here in the U.S. as this loan program is Federal. Aquaponics may also qualify for special stimulus loans as it's also green and can be operated on all renewable energy.
Backyard Aquaponics
