THE ADOPTION OF THE CONTROLLEDENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE

SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Abdulmuizz O. LAWAL (UI)Azeezat BUSARI (LAUTECH)

The CEA system

The Controlled Environment Agriculture system is an avenue to nurture plants in a confined space where environmental factors can be manipulated to quantities that best suit the crops

Why CEA? To solve the problem of space To make food available all year round To optimize resources and maximize

yield

(1 000ha)

*National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria

Cott

on F

arm

land

year

The CEA System in NigeriaMost of the CEA systems in Nigeria are

limited to; Educational Institution Research Institute

*IITA 2016

Potential of a CEA System

2014, two German Scientists, Banerjee and Adenaeuer increased the potential of a 0.25ha land to 68ha using a Controlled Environment Agriculture System

Elements that are important to plant growth

SOIL LIGHT (SOLAR ENERGY) WATER CO2

NUTRIENTS (MICRO AND MACRO)

SOIL It provides support It houses other important elements

AlternativeInorganic Organic

Saw dust Porous Clay mould

Pertile Plastic Foam

*PERTILE

LIGHT (SOLAR ENERGY) It helps activates Photosynthesis in plant leaves and other green

parts It causes Phototropism in plantAlternative

Red light stimulates flowering in plants

Blue light is important for Phototropism

Artificial light (LED)

WATERThere is no alternative to water but the quantity used can be optimized

Solution Application of water through drip irrigation Collection and Re-use of water

CO2 There is a higher demand for CO2 in a CEA system but

the closed system restricts the rate at which it is replenished

Alternatively, CO2 can be replenished by; Natural or forced ventilation Combustion of hydrocarbon Decomposition of bio-mass

NUTRIENTS

AlternativeInorganic Organic

Animal waste (duck droppings) Aquaponics

Cultured solutions Commercial soluble fertilizer

Downsides of a CEA system The initial cost of setting up an intensive

or a closed CEA system is very high. There might be a problem of acceptance

by our local farmers

Upsides of a CEA system

Yield of crops are increased Food is available all year round

CONCLUSION The CEA System is a very important

method we need to adopt to maximize space, to meet the growing food demand and to make food available all year round.

THANK YOU