13/09/2019
Introductory Notes CEA greenhouse technologies
Growth of Greenhouses
World greenhouse vegetable production hit a major milestone in 2012, when the total worldwide greenhouse vegetable production area surpassed 1 million acres, according to the International Greenhouse Vegetable Production Statistics released by Cuesta Roble Consulting.
It is widely predicted that greenhouse construction will double in the next decade, completing a paradigm shift worldwide in the way mankind produces commodity fruits and vegetables. Instead of altering the genetics of the plants to provide the ability to grow in harsh environments, inside the greenhouses we change the environment to provide the best growing conditions for the plants.
Smart Greenhouses
The heart of CEA is the "intelligent greenhouse" such as an EnviroDome system-- a sophisticated, precision engineered, solid-state, controlled climate growing space that provides optimum conditions for crop growth.
The EnviroDomes contain Climate Control Systems, Fertigation Management and Fertigation Water Treatment Systems. These products are designed to help growers with commercial greenhouse operations maximize crop yields and help with water conservation and energy savings.
Success Without Shortcuts Requires Access to Markets and Finance with Complete Teaching and Training
Greenhouse crop production is a real and knowledge-driven, biologically based venture, and as such it requires learning, experience, patience and an entrepreneurial nature to succeed. There are few shortcuts to success and, as such, the fundamentals of plant needs for growth must be understood and applied for success.
Throughout the history of agriculture, the farmer has had to deal with the various aspects of
unpredictability. CEA greenhouse technologies and the business models that they offer move
towards bringing more predictability into the process of reliably growing and marketing a crop.
It Requires a Serious Financial Investment
CEA is not a panacea, it is proven to provide extremely high yields of superior-quality products at competitive market prices and has enabled production under difficult environmental conditions.
Significantly it has created wealth for entrepreneurs and risk-takers and it has favourably impacted agriculture on a large scale.
Success in a CEA business requires market security to ensure financial sustainability and for obtaining the financing for greenhouse development. This is attested to by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Centre at the University of Arizona who collaborate with our own team at the University Of Ghana’s EnviroDome Centre of Excellence situated in the Research Centre at Kade in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
However, just like any new technology, one must carefully weigh the benefit, cost and adoption rate.
Aida Agro Allied Services provides its clients with EnviroDome systems which are well- tried and specially adapted for the growing conditions of West Africa, the teaching and training, farm design and management advice and off take assistance.
"The producer that masters the complete supply chain is the one who would most likely succeed."
