Chinese solar firm promotes ‘Aquaponics’ farming in Sri Lanka
With an eye to promoting organic agriculture, U-Tron Maanshan (China) together with its local partner is introducing a new way of farming in Sri Lanka by integrating fish and plant cultivation.
U-Tron Maanshan, a subsidiary of U-Tron (Beijing) Electronics Co Ltd which is engaged in installing U-Tron solar home and street light systems countrywide through its local partner U-Tron Lanka, plans to popularise ‘Aquaponics’ containers in the island, Raja Magasweran, Managing Director of the company said.
These ‘Aquaponics’ containers made in China allow people to grow vegetables and fruits and it doesn’t require fertiliser, he told the Business Times adding that this is a compact way to efficiently produce high quality, nutritious food.
This system essentially consists of a flood tank; grow bed and a fish tank. The three compartments are interlinked by pipes and a pump is required to keep a continuous flow of water between them, he explained.
The flood tank is usually situated on the top of the Aquaponics system. It consists of water from the fish tank.
Here the water containing ammonia is converted to nitrates by sponges on the tank bed. At the second stage, nitrate-rich water created by the bacterial process from the flood tank flows to the grow bed made of gravel, he disclosed
The high concentration of nitrates enables plants to grow. Fresh water after the refining process in the grow bed goes into the fish tank positioned at the end of the system, he added.
Leafy vegetables such as coriander, mint, spinach and lettuce are usually planted in the grow bed, he said.
Mr. Magasweran noted that his company is also producing cultivar LED grow lights for Aquaponics systems which will increase plant productivity.
He noted that his company is willing to assist farmers to go for Aquaponics farming which has several advantages.
Neither drought nor torrential rains impact such a farm, he said noting that it also requires a third of the space that traditional farming needs.
Water requirement also reduces drastically since most of it is recycled and the produce is organic, he added.
U-Tron is expanding its operations in Sri Lanka providing solar power for houses in rural areas that cannot be reached through the national grid, he revealed. .
The company plans to introduce advanced solar powered LED (light emitting diode) lighting products to meet the basic lighting needs of rural homes and other locations.
It also supplies solar operated refrigerators s and deep freezers for holiday homes and restaurants, solar home units with TV and fans for houses without power, he said noting that the company has donated 50 units to the rural poor.
It has already installed U-Tron solar home systems and street lights systems in houses, home gardens, hotels, shops and elders homes in Kalutara district, Moratuwa, Ratmalana, Dehiwala and Maharagama areas.
A programme to install solar power systems in places of worship including Buddhist temples and churches in rural areas is now being implemented in addition to extending consultancy and engineering services for non-governmental organisations, he revealed.