Commercial Hydroponics- A Viable Solution For Mena Regions’ Food Shortage Issue

Food security is a significant concern for governments in MENA region, which isalready heavily dependent on food imports. While agricultural productivity for theregion as a whole increased markedly during the 1990s due to modernizationefforts with water management, the region still faces a food deficit of 50-90 milliontons by 2020.

Hydroponics offers some potential to reduce food security risks of the region andalmost all the MENA countries are now exploring the potential of”—soil-freeagriculture and vertical farming—in order to be self-sufficient in food productionby 2023.

There is rapid growth in Global Food Market and it is time that nations becomeself-sufficient in its agriculture production. Modern agriculture occupies far morethan the 10.6 percent of global land that is arable.

In Saudi Arabia, arable land is verylimited; therefore, it is highlychallenging for it to produce adequatefood. Saudi Arabia imports 95% oftheir fresh fruits and vegetables forwhich the nation is paying massivepremiums, as a consequence burdeningits economy. Most of the MENAcountries suffer from a lack of arableland and climate that are unsuitable forthe mass production of food.

For the countries where naturalresources are a question in supportingagricultural growth, commercializationof hydroponic farming is the viableanswer. The hydroponic technique ishighly sustainable; a onetimeinfrastructure investment can bring100 years of returns. The growth ofhigh yield crops means, returns oninvestments are made quickly.

We can confidently assure thathydroponic farming is a win - winsituation for all as with 80% lesswater usage and efficientutilization of land. Hydroponics isone of the many choices; but themost sustainable one for a viableand greener agriculture for theMENA region.

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