CONCEPT PAPER

Simplified hydroponics fodder and food

crop to ensure food security to the dry

counties

HYDROPONICS AFRICA LTD

PRESENTED BY

PETER CHEGE CEO AND FOUNDER

23/08/2016

What is the issue?

The need of producing more food is clear around the world. Climatic

change and water scarcity make this duty a hard and expensive task in

arid places such as Marsabit,Turkana,Isiolo,Wajir and Garissa. In this

arid zone there is a huge need for water in order to produce feed for

fattening livestock ,milk production and growing food crops. Cattle,goats

and sheep need to be fed with a special diet in which proteins must be

provided. Proteins can be found in green fodder and it can be made up

from different crop sources such as oat, barley or wheat, among others.

The average water waste to produce a kilogram of dry matter fodder out

of wheat by the traditional method is 505 L, and therefore sustainable

production is so crucial. Likewise to produce 1 kg of tomatoes we require

214 ltrs of water. The average water consumption to produce 1kg of

hydroponic green fodder is 1 L conventionally in the soil we require 80 L

to produce the same weight. One of the most viable, sustainable and low

water consumption (up to 80%less water) ways to produce fodder and

food crops is using hydroponic techniques. Which represents a key

alternative for agriculture in arid places in Kenya. Taking into

consideration that the human population is growing worldwide,

Hydroponics fodder and food crop production represents a great

sustainable way to increase meat production, milk production and ensure

food security in order to meet population increasing demands. With

hydroponics, Governments should focus in farming in deserts instead of

current heavy investment on irrigation.

In response, Hydroponics Africa Ltd sought to improve livestock

and food crop productivity throughout the year irrespective of

effects of climate change, by supporting pastoralists to adopt more

productive, climate-resilient - Simplified hydroponics fodder and

food technology

What will we do? Using a simplified hydroponic shed of 144 metre squire that grows 1.5

tonnes of green feed (wet) per day. This amounts to produce 110 kgs of

dry matter .The feed produced contains approximately 25% protein and at

least 9 MJ/kg of energy.

Cattle growing at 1.0 kg /day have a dry matter intake of 10 kg per day with a protein content of 12%. Pasture that has matured will have a protein content of approximately 10.5% protein. This quality of pasture will not finish cattle and will severely reduce their weight gain. Cattle can utilise pasture of lower quality provided there is adequate protein in their diet. So to utilise this pasture this fodder will be used to gain a finished article.

For an example: Using 420 kg live weight cattle, required to grow at 1.0 kg/day.

• Feed intake = 10 kg dm/day • Protein requirement = 12% • Energy = 100 MJ/day

The diet should comprise 90% pasture and 10% green feed. This will give a diet containing 12% protein and have an energy content of 107 MJ/day. A growth rate of 1.0 kgs per day will return around $2.00 on current market prices. 110kgs of green feed dry matter/day will feed 110 cattle per day resulting in a return of $220 per day.Dairy cows will be fed the same ration and according to Ohio State University,Extended trials over 29 years indicate that dairy cattle fed fresh hydroponics barley fodder outperformed cattle fed on grass that was allowed to dry with increased milk production of 28% and improved fat content by 14%

With hydroponics fodder production, farmers can produce enough

feed for their home-based cows to maintain milk production

throughout the year.

Benefits to sheep and goats • Improved weight gain from 0.053 to 0.098 gm per day

• Improved fat and marbling

• Improved general well being in the herd

• Improved fertility

To grow food crops in dry areas we will use wickening bends which

has being proved to be the excellence method of growing crops in

arid-water scarce regions as only up to 1/4 of water is needed

compared with conventional methods.Wickening bends are dug into

the ground,sealed with a polythene liner that stores water then filled

with gravel above this gravel is a good mixture of moisture retaining

substrate. These two zones are usually separated by shade cloth.

The plants are planted within the substrate. refill pipe leads down

from substrate to water reservoir. The water and nutrients is drawn

up from reservoir to root zone by capillary action. This removes the

need of over head watering making it ideal method of growing

vegetables,cereals,regumes and root tuber crops in arid and semi

arid areas with little water, and no access of soil. The same method

of wickening bends will be used to grow fodder and cactus for

livestock as per link below involving a trial done in mexico

Hydroponics Africa Ltd Milestones since 2012:

• Innovative simplified hydroponics fodder system design which

does not require electricity to maintain temperature and

humidity ideal for dry lands.

• Hydroponics nutrient formulations for specific crop

• Trained over 6,000 farmers on hydroponics technology.

• Installed over 1000 hydroponics fodder and food crops units in

Kenya,Uganda,Somalia,Tanzania and Rwanda

• Appointed to present at cop22 on climate change in Morroco

this November.

Roles of Africa Dry land Institute of Sustainability (ADIS) and

Hdroponics Africa Ltd

• Hydroponics Technology transfer to pastoralist community through training and demonstrations

• Establishments and running of hydroponics fodder and food crops units in the 5 dry counties.

• Making and distributing of hydroponics nutrients, seeds and other materials.

Roles of ILRI

• Facilatating the above

• Monitoring all the activities