Browsing by Author "Gumisiriza, Margaret"

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Building sustainable societies through vertical soilless farming: A cost-effectiveness analysis on a small-scale non-greenhouse hydroponic system
(Elsevier, 2022-08) Gumisiriza, Margaret; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Nalunga, Asha; Mbega, Ernest
The growing rate of population and urbanization among African cities versus the reducing arable land has roused curiosity in soilless farming as an urban farming method to enhance food security and urban sustainability. This study investigated the economic viability of producing 60 heads of lettuce using a vertical non-circulating hydroponic system outside the green house as a low cost sustainable urban food production prospect for Africa. This was based on a hydroponic experiment set up in Uganda, East Africa 4 capital budgeting techniques were used for the analysis, that is; Net Present Value (NPV), Profitability index (PI), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Non-discounted Pay Back Period (NDPBP). A sensitivity and scenario analysis were adopted for risk analysis while regression analysis was considered for forecasting and modelling purposes. A discount rate of 10% was considered for the analysis based on the loan borrowing rate. The unit production cost equaled to 0.46$/head and sale price was estimated at 0.75/head. Initial costs deemed necessary for annual production were estimated at 171.1$. Results showed the following economic values: NPV (16.37$), IRR (12.57%), PI (1.1) and NDPBP (4,5) for annual crop production of 6 cycles. NPV was sensitive to changes in discount rate and unit price while revenue varied with a change in quantities sold and unit price as per the scenario analysis. A significant negative and positive linear relationship was found between unit price of lettuce versus quantity sold and revenue earned correspondingly. Adoption of vertical hydroponic lettuce production can be considered an equally cost-effective venture with substantial profits cetris paribus with the potential to increase food security and sustainability around urbanities. Further research needs to be done to assess the profitability of producing other vegetables using the same system across various seasons and cities.
Can soilless farming feed urban East Africa? An assessment of the benefits and challenges of hydroponics in Uganda and Tanzania
(Elsevier, 2022-01) Gumisiriza, Margaret; Kabirizi, Jolly; Mugerwa, Micheal; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Mbega, Ernest
East Africa has the potential to boost its urban food production through adoption of soilless farming techniques. The case study assessed the benefits and drawbacks allied with hydroponic vegetable farming among urban and peri‑urban farms in Northern Tanzania and Central Uganda. Snowball sampling was used to identify 150 vegetable farms/farmers through urban farmers’ groups and recommendations from the agricultural organizations from Uganda and Tanzania. Based on the complexity and distinctiveness of this farming system, only 51 individuals engaging in hydroponic vegetable production took part in responding to the semi-structured Google form questionnaire that was issued through social media platforms, face to face interviews and farm visits. Results from the study showed that hydroponics is a climate smart farming system (n = 13, 26%), produces high yields within limited space (n = 24, 48%), has no soil borne pests and diseases (n = 10, 20%) and gives the farmer the ability to control environmental conditions (n = 2, 4%). On the contrary, over 50% of the respondents reported high investment costs (n = 16, 31%) and lack of adequate knowledge on hydroponics (n = 11, 22%) as the main limitations of the technology. Based on farmers’ recommendations, hydroponics has potential to increase food security within urban areas if more efforts are put in sensitization about the farming system and research into ways to reduce the high costs associated with the technology.
Memoir and Farming Structures under Soil-Less Culture (Hydroponic Farming) and the Applicability for Africa: A Review
(ARCC JOURNALS, 2020-06-11) Gumisiriza, Margaret; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Mbega, Ernest
Agriculture is the economic back-borne of majority of developing countries worldwide. The sector employs over 50% of the working population and contributes about 33% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in majority of African states. However, such contribution by the agricultural sector is likely to be affected by climate change, increasing human population and urbanization which impact on available agricultural land in various ways. There is thus an urgent need for developing countries to create or adopt technologies such as; soil-less farming that will not only address climate change challenges but also enhance crop production for improved food security. This paper reviews the science, origin, dynamics and farming systems under the soil-less agriculture precisely hydroponic farming to assist in widening the scope of knowledge of the hydroponic technologies and their implementation in Africa.
A simplified non-greenhouse hydroponic system for small-scale soilless urban vegetable farming
(Elsevier, 2022-10-09) Gumisiriza, Margaret; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Mbega, Ernest
Majority of under-developed countries continue to face a challenge of food insecurity around urban areas resulting from factors such as; limited access to arable land. This study aimed at developing a simplified low-tech hydroponic system for growing leafy vegetables alongside testing its economic viability. This was intended to support urban vegetable production and henceforth contributing to food security more so in under-developed states dealing with the challenge of increasing urban population vs. reducing arable land around urban/ peri-urban areas. A hydroponic unit for growing 60 leafy vegetables (using lettuce as a study crop) under non-controlled environmental conditions was designed and developed using low-cost and low-tech materials. Kratky hydroponic method which involves growing crops using water as a media without the need for water pumps and electricity was used. A study was also carried out to assess the profitability of the system. The results indicated a: net present values of 16.37$, internal rate of return of 12.57%, profitability index of 1.1 and non-discounted payback period of approximately 8 months (4 cropping seasons). These findings showed that the system has the potential to improve urban food production and availability in especially in developing countries in a profitable manner. Vegetable production using the hydroponic system can also contribute to: • tachievement of sustainable development goals, 2 (zero hunger) and 3 (good health and wellbeing); • improvement in urban agriculture production and income generation among urban farmers; • enhanced adoption of low-cost, low-tech, environmental-friendly and sustainable farming systems.
Soilless urban gardening as a post covid-19 food security salvage technology: A study on the physiognomic response of lettuce to hydroponics in Uganda
(Elsevier, 2023-03) Gumisiriza, Margaret; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Nampijja, Zaina; Mbega, Ernest
This study was conducted to assess the performance of vegetables using a non-greenhouse hydroponic system as a sustainable urban farming technology to increase food security (in terms of vegetable production and availability). Leafy lettuce (red and green) was grown using non-circulating hydroponics under a complete randomized design. The effect of hydroponics on growth and yield of the vegetables was studied. Six parameters were studied: plant height, length of the root, number of leaves, weight of lettuce, moisture content and dry matter. Data was collected 20 and 40 Days after transplanting and analyzed using T-test at 5% significance level with Origin Pro software (version 9.0). Soil-based cultivation was used as the control experiment. A significant difference (P < 0.05) existed at yield for lettuce grown under soil and hydroponics for; dry matter content (0.02, 0.01), fresh weight (0.03, 0.02) and root length (0.01, 0.02) in that order. Based on number of leaves which is the key edible part of the vegetable, hydroponics has the potential to perform as equally well as conventional farming. Further research can be done to study the nutritional composition of the lettuce and performance of the other vegetables using the system.
Status, physiognomies and economic viability of hydroponic lettuce production in selected areas of Sothern TANZANIA and Central UGANDA
(2023-08) Gumisiriza, Margaret
There is an increasing interest and research in soilless farming due to its ability to enhance food production amidst challenges presented by urbanization. However, the adoption of this technology is still very limited in East Africa. This main objective of the research was to study the appropriateness of hydroponics as a feasible urban cropping system for improved vegetable production and accessibility in Uganda. An assessment on status of hydroponics in Northern Tanzania and Central Uganda was carried out using google questionnaires and face-face interviews which revealed limited uptake of the technology majorly due to the high initial costs required. An experiment was set up in central Uganda to evaluate the performance of red and green leafy lettuce produced using a non-greenhouse and non-circulating hydroponic system. Parameters assessed included; plant height, root length, number of leaves, leaf width, fresh weight and dry matter content. Data was analyzed using 2 sample T-test under origin software. A significant difference was noted at harvest for dry matter content (P=0.02, P=0.01), fresh weight (P=0.03, P=0.02) and root length (P=0.01, P=0.02) between red and green lettuce grown under soil and hydroponics in that order at P < 0.05. An economic analysis was done on the system to assess its profitability. Budgeting techniques results showed: Net present value (16.37$), Internal rate of return (12.57%), Profitability index (1.1) and non-discounted payback period (4,5) for annual crop production. Net present value was sensitive to changes in discount rate and unit price while revenue varied with a change in quantities sold and unit price. Regression analysis showed that a variation in the unit price of lettuce was stronger and negatively affected the quantity sold (R=0.91) than the influence the same independent variable on revenue earned (R=0.84). Based on the study results, hydroponics has the potential to act as a suitable alternative in vegetable production system and improve accessibility to vegetables across urban areas in a cost-effective manner. This will also assist in contributing to sustatinable develeopment goals; 3 (good health and wellbeing) and 11 (sustainable cities and communities). There is need to study the perfomance of other vegetables as well as various factors that can improve crop perfomance using the hydroponic system inorder to boost; crop yield, adoption of the system and hence vegetable accessibility and food security. Policy makers and governments should put more efforts in training farming communities about hydroponics.