Hydroponic farming is specifically suitable for Lebanon as it protects crops from dramatically changing weather conditions, requires less space, and achieves huge savings in water consumption. The specific know-how required to operate the systems is a key success determinant. The initial cost of a hydroponic farm is higher than traditional agriculture, so are the potential returns when well operated and marketed.
Up to 95 percent water saving
Hydroponic farming uses between 70 and 95 percent less water than open field cultivation, according to a World Bank report released in 2018. “Lebanon is ideally suited for an expansion of hydroponics. Lebanon has increasing water pressures, large urban populations, small land holdings, and large refugee communities. All challenges that hydroponics can help mitigate. But, it also has logistical conditions that are helpful. Lebanon has been engaged in protected cultivation for decades, like greenhouse agriculture,” the World Bank said in its ‘Droughts and Agriculture in Lebanon Causes, Consequences, and Risk Management’ report. “Protected crops are gateways for growers to enter hydroponic schemes… hydroponics is simply an advanced, more productive form of protected cultivation, so a transition is not such a giant leap,” the report said.
Less pesticide deposits
Hydroponic farming does not require crop rotation and other soil conservation techniques. Waste is minimized as solvents are reused and recycled. Plants are grown in a controlled environment and are provided the right amounts of nutrients and fertilizers. They are also protected from pests and diseases making the use of pesticides often unnecessary. CEDARMAN, which operates high technology controlled environmental greenhouses to produce a broad range of crops under the brand, owner of Carré Vert, said that they use biopesticides consisting of a mixture of soaps and oils that are not harmful to humans. “Biopesticides have become very expensive. I prefer to uproot diseased plants rather than using chemical pesticides. We aim to reach European quality standards,” he said. Carré Vert is involved in a range of agricultural activities in the fields of interior greens, home-gardens, landscapes, irrigation, and hydroponic farming. , Regional Product Manager for Irrigation and Equipment, at Debbane Agri said that soilless agriculture protects plants from soil-borne diseases such as fungal diseases and there is no need for pesticides for these diseases. Debbane Agri Holding, which is the agriculture division of Debbane Saikali Group, provides turnkey solutions with after-sales technical service provided by 20 engineers in all regions across the country. Azar said that hydroponic farmers can adopt the Integrated Crop Management (ICM) system to avoid intensive use of pesticides and only use them when infection occurs. Hydroponic systems also enjoy additional protection from insects as most of them are enclosed in greenhouses which prevent insects from attacking the crops giving an additional reason for reducing the use of pesticides.
