Hydroponic farming is rapidly emerging as a reliable commercial market in Mauritius agricultural authorities believe, with more and more growers going to greenhouse farming, ensuring sustainable development agricultural practices
The island which is often touted as a paradise getaway destination in the south west Indian Oceans , has over the last 10 years or so developed its hydroponic farming industry.
Growing tomatoes , garlic and onions have been its principal crops, while being near enough to self-sufficiency in tomato production overall this year thus far.
According to the Mauritian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the hydroponics sector is emerging as a significant part of the economy , empathizing to reporters that cultivating tomatoes, cucumbers and melons represent 85 per cent of the hydroponics farming on the island nation .
Officials have stated that according to their latest figures, currently there are 330 farmers involved in hydroponic farming methods which are small to medium operations that spanned the island last year , in 2006 there were 180 farms.
According to the Agricultural Research & Extension Unit (AREU) hydroponic farming is attracting more and more financiers due to a market demand in many vegetables.
The growing need to secure Mauritius food resources and to reduce the costs of imported food were also reasons offered by officials in the importance of commercial hydroponics presently and in the years to follow.
Indeed technical assistance has been presented by AREU agricultural scientists since 2001 to farmers wanting to transition from traditional farming methods to hydroponic growing. And engineering.
The total area under hydroponics farming on the island is around 25hectares with approximately 570 commercial greenhouses.
Officials explained that currently the industry has several large hydroponic growers expanding their farms up to 2 acres in size, emphasizing that enhancing farming research in hydroponic vegetables specifically was crucial in maintaining food security.
While the sector is anticipated to gain moderate growth via improved control of greenhouse environments, insect invasion , burglary of vegetables and high initial investment costs have hindered further expansion of hydroponic farms on the island .
Nonetheless hydroponic fruits and vegetables tend to mature much sooner coupled with an extended cultivating season while being is environmentally friendly .Crop yields during any given year are consistent, another positive aspect to hydroponic farming officials believe.
Although hydroponic economic growth figures were not released by the government , it is estimated that continued growth in the years to come in the sector will be buoyant according the Ministry of Agricultures Sustained Program for Agricultural Diversification report.
It is estimated that globally the commercial hydroponics industry has grown approximately 400 percent since 2011 and is a 6 billion dollar industry according to a study carried out by the Australian Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
Presently the government funds 80 percent of the loan amount to growers at an interest rate of 7.9percent per annum, paying interest only for the first two years, officials believe that this stimulates investment in the commercial hydroponics sector.