Status, physiognomies and economic viability of hydroponic lettuce production in selected areas of Sothern TANZANIA and Central UGANDA

Abstract

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.