Aquaponics for small farmers

We are an association that works near the Waraira Repano Park. There are two neighbouring communities, known as Quenepe and Sector Sanchorquiz. Their inhabitants are opting for short-cycle crops to ensure their subsistence. The problem is that they do so in inadequate conditions, eliminating forest.

In order to continue preventing the degradation of the unique landscapes of the Cordillera de la Costa, a community reforestation nursery was implemented. However, these measures did not prevent deforestation practices from continuing. For these reasons, artisanal prototypes of aquaponics were implemented with vertical agriculture, of minimal dimensions, with fish and crops adjusted to the temperatures of the area, fed with sunlight, under a flat shed greenhouse. The intention is to promote the revitalisation of the family garden, with little space and high probabilities of favouring food security.

As an innovative aspect, a solar convection dehydrator was used to dry plant residues. Once ground, it was combined with fishmeal to supplement fish nutrition. This makes the system less expensive to maintain. In this case, the following were processed potato peelings, aubergine, carrot, coriander stalks, sweet potato, milkweed, pineapple, etc. ....

The essence of aquaponics is that fish eat and produce waste. This is food for the bacteria, which convert it into fertilizer for the plants. The roots purify the water by removing the nitrogen, which returns down to the fish.

The advantages are as follows: 

- Water savings compared to conventional systems: thanks to its operation, the water used serves a dual purpose (raising fish and growing agricultural crops), generating two products at the same time and saving up to 90% of the consumption of this increasingly scarce liquid.

- Reduced fertilizer use: fish waste fertilizes the water used to irrigate plants, thus providing crops with nutrients.

- Less waste: the plants clean the water for the fish. this point and the previous one allow a win-win situation to be established, increasing food production capacity and decreasing the use of external resources.

- Less soil degradation: very little space is used and vegetables and fish can be produced in the same place and with optimum quality, without insecticides.

By implementing the two measures together, degraded spaces were restored. At that time, endemic and naturalised species of high commercial value began to be planted, without detriment to biodiversity. The inhabitants are now encouraged to maintain the vegetation.