Hydroponics farmers

This is open hydroponics inside a greenhouse, an agriculture system without soil.  It gives at least 30 per cent more productivity and saves up to 40 per cent of water [used for irrigation], compared to conventional agriculture.  Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil. Although hydroponic systems do not involve soil, they may involve a wide variety of growing media, such as perlite, gravel, peat, sand, rock wool and others. Most of the plant nutrients are supplied by the nutrient solution, rather than by the media in which the plants are grown. The UAE farms produce vegetables and fruit mostly during winter. Productivity goes down considerably during summer. The new system is expected to change that and may ensure the presence of local vegetables and fruit throughout the year. In the closed hydroponics system the same nutrient solution is re-circulated and the nutrient concentrations are monitored and adjusted accordingly. The system, imported from Holland, grows plants without soil. They are fertilized with mineral nutrient solutions and the irrigation water is recycled using sand, screen filters and ultraviolet rays. But the system can be complicated to understand for farmers used to traditional methods. The farmers services Centre provide technical assistance.