Rival students acknowledge benefits of Hydroponics Competition
THE Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has, for the third year, rolled out their School Children’s Hydroponics Competition and has spurned a burning desire among the participants to be a part of the agriculture sector and shape the future of the sector as Guyana advances. Hydroponics is essentially a method of growing plants and, in Guyana, it is mostly using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil to produce green, leafy crops.
Initially, 41 schools were involved in the contest but only seven continued to the finals – Charity, Linden Foundation, Richard Ishmael, Uitvlugt, Port Mourant and Bladen Hall secondary schools and Bygeval Multilateral, with the last being the 2010 first place winner.
The finalists said the rivalry introduced them to a new planting technique and exposed them to the possibilities in agriculture.
A student from the Charity Secondary group, Roslyn Simon admitted, to the Guyana Chronicle, that there were some challenges on the way but said it was a worthwhile experience.
Another, Joshua Etienne, from Linden Foundation Secondary, said learning about the different technologies changed some of the students’ perspective that agriculture was just about forks and shovels and back-breaking work.
Richard Ishmael Secondary student Koyel Reid said the interesting thing was that it exposed his group to various aspects of the agriculture sector, highlighting that food production was much more than some believed.
Rehanna Ally, from Uitvlugt Secondary, said the innovative technique helped her group to work together and realise the potential of techniques being advanced throughout the country.
Jagdish Jagasar, from Bygeval Multilateral, said the process was not only about learning but recognising the importance of agriculture and the contribution the involvement can make.
Ravindra Jaikissoon, of Port Mourant Secondary, said they discovered many different things about agriculture.
Rajendra Sarje, from Bladen Hall Secondary, said practicing hydroponics is the start of the discovery of what agriculture is about, a look into a sector that plays a major role in advancing the development of the country.

PARTNERED
The Ministries of Agriculture and Education partnered in the initiative and IICA Representative, Mr. Ignatius Jean remarked that, in the last three years, the competition has spawned 41 schools, an increase over the initial 15.
He said the hope is that, in 2011, it would extend further to cover schools in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and the Practical Instruction Centres (PICs) are being targeted for that purpose.
He made special mention of the late Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox, whose idea it was to stage the competition.
Jean said it is one way to encourage excitement in agriculture and educate future farmers and other stakeholders in the sector.
“It also adds to the Agriculture Science programme in schools, giving teachers an opportunity to demonstrate the different technologies,” he said.
Jean reported that the response has been encouraging and the prizes for those who performed very well range from agricultural tools and supplies and trophies to organised visits to agriculture sector institutions, including Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and the new Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) packaging houses.     
Hydroponics is a concept that does not require much effort and is convenient, more than planting kitchen gardens. Some other reasons why hydroponics is being adapted around the world for food production are the following:
* No soil is needed;
* The water stays in the system and can be reused –  thus, lower water costs;
* It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety – thus, lower nutrition costs;
* No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system;
* Stable and high yields; and
* Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the container’s mobility.
Reports are that today, hydroponics is an established branch of agronomy.
Progress has been rapid, and results obtained in various countries have proved it to be thoroughly practical and to have very definite advantages over conventional methods of horticulture.
The two chief merits of the soil-less cultivation of plants are, first, much higher crop yields, and second, hydroponics can be used in places where in-ground agriculture or gardening is not possible.
Thus, not only is it a profitable undertaking, but one which has proved to be of great benefit to humanity. People living in crowded city streets, without gardens, can grow fresh vegetables and fruits in window-boxes or on rooftops. By means of hydroponics all such places can be made to yield a regular and abundant supply of fresh greens.
Other advantages include faster growth combined with relative freedom from soil disease, and consistency in crops.
There is also a considerable reduction in growing area.
Weeds are practically non-existent, while standard methods and automatic operations mean less labour, lower cost, and less difficult manual labour.
As some plants can be raised out of season, better control of crops naturally results.
Aside from being promoted in schools, at present hydroponics is being practiced by the average farmer in Regions Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and Five (Mahaica/ Berbice).