

Hydroponics and the Development of Agriculture


Hydroponics is defined as a method of growing vegetables without the help of any soil. These plants are produced in sand, liquid or gravel. There are additional nutrients but no use of soil at all. Since there is no use of actual soil, there is no mechanical support for the growth of the plants. This new method offers a hoard of opportunities in growing vegetables hydroponically. Some of the vegetables that may be grown are capsicums, eggplants, cucumbers and tomatoes. This method was mainly introduced due to the demand of the consumers. According to the latest reports, consumers prefer tomatoes grown hydroponically rather than those that are produced conventionally.
What is needed:
Thus, greenhouses, that possessed older technology, are now being replaced with newer technology that caters to consumer demands. At the present moment, hydroponic tomatoes account for thirty per cent of the tomatoes that are sold in the Australian market. Over time, hydroponic vegetables will take over the entirety of the vegetable market. Substantial opportunities exist for investors to enter the industry as growers, and become part of a dynamic network of similar producers. Or there is a need for infrastructure, in the form of glasshouses, packing sheds and cool rooms, to be developed.
There are many avenues of entry into an industry that is now having a growth spurt in Australia. This growth is being driven by strong consumer support and retail pressure for quality produce. Substantial investment is required to satisfy the demand.
Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)