Africa-Press – Cape verde. Quinta Pura Vida, owned by musician and farmer Hélder Silva (Heavy H), located in São Francisco, Praia, has already harvested more than 20 crops of various vegetables in 14 months of production using aeroponics technology.
Aeroponics is a cultivation system in which the roots are suspended in the air inside a tank or tube and are constantly sprayed with a solution of nutrients and water.
According to Hélder Silva, the first plantation at Quinta Pura Vida, with 100 towers with 36 holes, took place in October 2022 and since then he has harvested a little bit of everything, with production using 95% less water and 90% less soil than would be necessary in traditional agriculture.
Production, as he explained, is three times faster than normal.
“Everything that is planted is produced three times faster than in traditional agriculture, that is, planting on land. For example, lettuce will be ready to eat in 21 days, cucumber in 18 days, zucchini in 19 days. These are vegetables that, when planted in the ground, take 45 days to two months to be consumed”, he maintained.
In this logic, he explained that with this technique, considered an upgrade of hydroponics, during a year, 12 months, it is possible to produce 16 harvests, while if these products are planted in the ground there will be three harvests per year at most.
“In terms of water use, taking into account that it is a closed circuit, the water hits the roots directly, the plants consume what they need and the water returns to the container at the base, preventing water wastage. Therefore, we save 95% of water”, he highlighted.
Hélder Silva highlights that aeroponic technology appears to be very ideal for a country like Cape Verde. with little water availability, as it allows the production of all climbing vegetables and fruits, which are consumed in Cape Verde, with the exception of tubers, such as potatoes, cassava, onions and other roots.
The logic, he stated, is to increase production and reduce costs. With an investment of 60 thousand escudos per month, it is possible to obtain a monthly income of more than 300 thousand escudos.
The farmer, who, more than just selling products, wants to disseminate technology to improve agricultural production and reduce dependence on imports of vegetables in Cape Verde, regrets, however, the still weak adherence to this technique, due to the difficulties of financing.
However, he added that there is some prospect, as some public services have already expressed interest in installing this technology for vegetable production.
“It’s so simple, so easy, because you sow sitting down, you plant sitting down, you wait and you harvest. There is no hoe, there is no manure, there are no holes, there is no working the soil. In two months, Cape Verde does not need to import any vegetables, because all types of vegetables are produced here, except tubers,” she said.
Each tower with 36 holes for 36 plants costs 99 thousand escudos, said Hélder Silva, who is ready to support anyone interested in investing in this agricultural technique.
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