Published Date: March 28, 2008
By Ben Garcia, Friday Times

There is only one place in Kuwait where hydroponic farming is practiced-the Wafra Faisaliya Farm, which is located about 120 kilometers south of Kuwait City.

Hydroponic, a method where plants are grown using mineral nutrient solutions instead of soil, was introduced in Kuwait two years ago. But the actual mass production started months ago. Hydroponic products are now available across several local supermarkets in Kuwait. Given the chance, Faisaliya Farm will be able to capture the market in neighboring countries. It is owned and managed by Faisal Sultan Al-Essa Estate, one of the owners of the Sultan Center.

Faisaliya is the only large-scale hydroponic farm in Kuwait, though there are other hydroponic facilities that are mostly cultivated for private use. Faisaliya started hydroponic farming with just few varieties of lettuce like lolho rosso, lolho biando, red oakleaf, green oak leaf, iceberg and romaine lettuce. This was done an year ago. Nowadays, hydroponic farming produce cucumbers and tomatoes as well.

But since hydroponic is water based farming, there are concerns regarding its appropriateness. This because the name itself implies the use of considerable amount of water. Kuwait experiences water shortage every summer.

No, in fact, it is the opposite. For example, if the traditional soil based farming consumes about 20 gallons of water every day, hydroponic farming, consumes only one gallon of water," said Engr Mahmoud Nammas, head of Faisaliya Vegetable Farm. Nammas pointed out that in hydroponic farming, water supply is controlled by computer, while soil farming is not.

When vegetables are watered in traditional soil farming, it will only absorb 10 percent of the water. The remaining 90 percent is wasted. In hydroponic farming, we control the water. The water is permanently stored in a tube (their permanent bed) and the nutrients are continuously supplied to plants. For example, we know the quantity of nutrients needed for a bed of lettuce. So in this way, we help conserve 90 percent of water, every time we grow crops according to the hydroponic method instead of traditional soil farming," he explained.

Wafra water supply

Did you know that individual farm owners in Wafra induced their own water supply with the help of deep wells? The construction of channels of water supply is currently underway and far from over, Faisaliya manager revealed.

The farm is spread out over an area of about 3,500 square meters, small yet enough to supply three huge supermarkets in Kuwait on a daily basis. The farm is virtually sealed by a greenhouse, (environmentally controlled area) to maintain temperature and 60-70 percent humidity. It is equipped with high tech computer equipments and ventilating and hydro-electric fans.

Hydroponic farming according to Nammas, helps increase crop yields in a small and very clean environment. It is not artificially or chemically grown and in fact do not use any fertilizer when compared to conventional soil farming. There is one disadvantage though- initial investment is too costly and only those committed and rich individuals can afford to setup a hydroponic method of farming. "Hydroponic farming is expensive indeed. But once it is set up, you are the winner ultimately," he noted.

Faisaliya produces all kinds of vegetables- not only through hydroponic farming but also using other methods like soil greenhouse and open field farming. Fruit-bearing trees, tomatoes, potatoes, red or green cabbages, bell peppers, squash, green onions, corn, okra, eggplants, mint are just some of the grown crops at here. It also boasts of an experimental mushroom and organic farming which may become commercially available in the near future.

What is Hydroponics?

Hydroponics is a term applied to the cultivation of plants in nutrient solutions without using soil. It began in the 1930’s as an offshoot of the techniques used by plant physiologists during plant nutrition experiments. More recent methods of hydroponics differ in particulars, but have two common features: (1) nutrients are supplied through liquid solutions; and (2) plants are supported by porous materials, such as peat, sand, or gravel that act as a wick to relay nutrient solution to the roots. Hydroponics uses several culture techniques.

The most practical commercial method is sub-irrigation in which plants are grown in trays filled with gravel, cinders, or other coarse materials and periodically flooded with nutrient solution. The solution is allowed to drain off after each flooding and may be reused as long as sufficient minerals remain in it. Another technique is called the water-culture method and is used widely for botanical experimentation. A common kind of water culture consists of glazed porcelain jars filled with solution; the plants are placed in beds of glass wool or similar material that are supported at the surface of the solution. Roots of the plants penetrate into the beds and remain in the solution.

The least exact method, commonly called the slop method, is the easiest to operate. Coarse, clean sand is used in place of soil, and nutrient solution is poured on the sand in approximately equal amounts at regular intervals. A refinement of this practice is the drip method, in which a steady, slow feed of nutrient is maintained. Excess nutrient solution is allowed to drain off in both slop and drip methods. - www.nas.nasa.gov

GREENHOUSE: A greenhouse is a structure with a glass or plastic roof and frequently glass or plastic walls; it heats up because incoming solar radiation from the sun warms plants, soil, and other things inside the building. Air warmed by the heat from hot interior surfaces is retained in the building by the roof and wall. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings. Biologist John Todd invented a greenhouse that turns sewage into water, through the natural processes of bacteria,
plants, and animals. - Wikipedia