|
The writer of this article is Suzanne Griffith she is a local agricultural activist that writes a weekly column in the local nation newspaper.
The advent of 2010 marks my third opportunity to experience the Barbadian phenomenon that is Agrofest. There is no doubt that Agrofest offers something for everyone; as a kitchen gardener, a journalist, and a parent I cast my, admittedly critical but certainly constructive, eye over the exhibitions in search of those that are worthy of further investigation. At last year’s exhibition I was introduced to the work of Damian Hinkson in the area of Aquaponics; one year on I had the opportunity to interview Damian again. Suffice it to say Hinkson is the consummate agriculturalist, an emerging entrepreneur, and a shining example of ingenuity, perseverance and dedication in action.
For the uninitiated Aquaponics is the synthesis of two types of farming, Aqua-culture or fish farming, and Hydro-ponics or soilless farming, hence the term Aquaponics.
Aquaculture is typically characterized by the high density cultivation of a particular species of fish; by default an operation such as this requires significant monitoring and maintenance, including constant fresh water replenishment, in order to ensure the optimal health of the fish.
Hydroponics is characterized by the soilless cultivation of agricultural crops; an operation such as this requires the direct regular provision of nutrients in order for plants to grow at optimal rates.
Both of these methods have their shortfalls but when implemented together they form a symbiotic relationship. Constructed as a closed recirculating loop, Aquaponic systems use the strengths of both methods to negate their weaknesses. Quite simply the waste water generated by high density fish farming is pumped through a soilless medium containing agricultural crops; the waste water provides necessary nitrogen rich nutrients to the crops and is returned via gravity flow to the fish tanks. The fish have clean water and the crops have the nutrients they require for optimal growth and yield.
When I last spoke with Damian Hinkson he was on the verge of transitioning his lifelong fascination into a sustainable future anchored by a commercial Aquaponic system. He took a brief moment out to update me on his progress and his vision for Aquaponics as a sustainable stakeholder in the future of Barbadian agriculture.
Q: Any discussion of Aquaponics must take into account constraints related to current water shortages (globally and locally) and as well water rate increases. How does Aquaponics fit into these constraints?
A: I am astounded that Barbadians have only taken note of water following the implementation of the recent rate increases. Globally, a similar example can be seen in Australia where drought and the accompanying water restrictions halted most recreational forms of water use, and only then was due attention given to water and its inextricable link to food production.
Aquaponics is the most efficient use of water in agriculture. Two crops, fish and vegetable, are grown using recirculating water, the only water loss being to evaporation. Aquaponics utilizes ten percent of the water it would take to raise vegetable crops, and twenty percent of the water required to raise land animals for protein. This means that very little water is needed to maintain these systems; most back yard systems can function year round on roof run off alone. If even a small portion of our agricultural production was converted to Aquaponics a significant strain would be lifted off our current water supply leaving water for other more important uses.
Q: How do you envision aquaponics growing in application and popularity in developing countries, especially those, like Barbados, with high food import bills.
A: Most developing nations, and in particular Barbados, have reached or are very close to their maximum carrying capacity, our development focus must now be toward becoming self sufficient. We import over 90% of our staples many of which are not indigenous to our country or region but can be grown locally using aquaponic type methods.
Two polices in Barbados make Aquaponics very viable. The first is mandatory rain water collection; the most basic of systems requires approximately 200 gallons of water per year, followed by a more sophisticated “backyard” system requiring 1200 gallons of water per year. These quantities are easily attained with rainwater collection. The second is the availability of a 40% rebate programme for Aquaponic systems, administered by the Ministry of Agriculture. These policies coupled with the excellent technical support offered with our products makes it easy to chose a reliable intensive organic food producing system over a standard water storage tank.
Q: What do you see as the advantage(s) of the availability of locally raised fish, in-particular Tilapia, versus farmed Tilapia imported from overseas?
A: Being a loca-vore, or one who prefers to subsist on locally produced food items, I support all types of local agriculture; all small island states should be food secure. A local tilapia farming industry would create foreign exchange while at the same time acting as a job creation catalyst in areas such as organic fish feed production, Aquaponic system design and maintenance, fish processing, even extracting bio- plastics from our sugar cane to make system components such as water proof containers.
Q: Aquaponics is most definitely a symbiotic system, I am curious to know which half of the relationship, the fish or the agricultural side, you see as, if any, the dominant one?
A: Commercially, agricultural crops generate profit very quickly while in comparison fish have to be farmed in large quantities to be profitable, in smaller backyard systems fish take on value as a novelty or water feature.
Q: As your Aquaponics operation has evolved from interest to occupation and entrepreneurship how do you see the Aquaponics sector developing over the next ten years?
I am currently at the end of my ten year plan and it has gone exactly how I envisioned it. I am pushing two types of Aquaponic systems: Commercial and Backyard. I now have the two types of systems working and available for viewing, as they say seeing is believing; now that people can see it working on varying scales, it should be an easier decision to get involved and purchase a system.
Within the next 18 months it is my goal to have a starter system in every secondary school. Without a doubt, the symbiotic nature of aquaponics is an excellent teaching aid. With help from Advance Electrical Inc. we are preparing to install a system at the Grantley Adams Secondary School under the stewardship of agriculture science teacher Mr. Samuel Knight. This pilot project will generate a text book and syllabus for other schools to implement. I am currently appealing to other private sector members to assist us with the implementation of starter systems in the more than 20 other secondary schools in Barbados.
With the assistance of David Bynoe and the Barbados National Standards Institute, I am also working toward the implementation of National Standards for Aquaponic systems.
As a true believer I would say my vision is that in five years Aquaponic systems in Barbados will be as common as the refrigerator.
Ultimately the way forward for commercial Aquaponics is to link it to the tourism sector. Hotels are well aware of the financial gains to be made by “going green.” Aquaponics is a vehicle by which hotels and other accommodations could market a ‘green’ component of their operations and an enhanced visitor experience. Imagine a hotel where all of the produce is grown entirely locally and to boot on-site.
Q: Given your longterm investment in Aquaponics can you safely say that the evolving outcome has made the investment worthwhile?
Yes, I love what I do; now I can make a living doing it.
Q: I have been aware of your relationship with the United Nations/FAO, could you elaborate on the partnership and how it has acted as a catalyst for the development of the commercial Aquaponics set up?
The necessary funding and training for the project are being provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF/SGP) headed by Mr. Giles Romulus.
Mr. Damian Hinds and Mr. Joseph Peltier of the UN/FAO have also assisted us by enlisting Magill University to help us with the project.
--
Suzanne Griffith
|
Backyard Aquaponics
