Re-circulating Water and Water Harvesting as a Climate

Variability Adaptation Strategy for Horticulture Production in

the Caribbean Malcolm Xavier Wallace

Director of Planning and Implementation

Agricultural Research and Outreach Organisation (AGRO)agro2.tt@gmail.com

OUTLINE Specific Climate Change Challenge

Recirculating Systems and Water Harvesting Addressing Challenges

Development Process of the Case Study

Level of Adoption and Why

Impact

CLIMATE VARIABILITY CHALLENGE

The Caribbean has recorded significant changes in climate over the last four decades (Rainfall variability, severe drought and flooding, increased incidence of tropical cyclones and rising sea levels).

These changes have affected traditional food production systems particularly open field / rain fed agriculture.

Most significantly changes in climate have constricted the availability of water for use in agriculture

As such …….improvements in the efficiency of water use in the industry is of vital importance.

This study documents; agricultural operations within the Caribbean region that utilize recirculating water systems and water harvesting techniques in horticulture production.

Target countries: The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

It will also highlight mechanisms for promoting their use and the provision of technical support by developmental organisations.

CLIMATE VARIABILITY CHALLENGE

ADDRESSING CHALLENGESRECIRCULATING SYSTEMS

To counteract the inclement effects of climate variability, production systems should be operated with the aim of minimizing water wastage.

Recirculating systems utilize the same volume of water for several production cycles and when effectively employed, serve as a risk mitigation tool against climate Variability.

In most cases, recirculating systems only loose approximately 3 – 10% of the initial water supply.

Water loss is markedly lower than that experienced using conventional irrigation systems or traditional forms of production.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGESRAINWATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting is important to agriculture production especially in developing countries as it provides an independent and free source of water

Supplements the main water supply or in many instances serves as the only source of water for irrigation and other on farm production and processing activities.

Mitigates against drought conditions, assist in the prevention of flooding of low-lying areas, and reduces demand on other sources of surface and ground water.

The concentration of contaminants in rainwater is significantly less than other sources. This makes it ideal for irrigation and fertigation.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES

Other benefits of recirculating systems Not labour intensive (requires a fraction of the labour used in traditional production systems of the same scale)

Use of technology (attractive for youth and women)

Improves Food security (small systems assist households in meeting their food requirements)

Improved quality of produce

OVERALL OBSERVATIONS Practitioners used hydroponics, aqauponics or other

systems and in most cases engaged in rainwater harvesting

Used varying degrees of technology to maximise efficiency.

All practitioners utilized a mixture of local and imported material in the design of their systems and there were many adaptations to suit local conditions.

OVERALL OBSERVATIONS Discarded materials from the construction and

manufacturing industries were modified to fulfil vital functions.

Products manufactured and sold for other purposes were used on site as substitutes for more expensive alternatives designed for use in the horticulture industry.

Practitioners both large and small stated definitively that recirculating systems had drastically reduced the amount of water required for production

Caption: Locally built NFT system at Abbey Garden Farms in Jamaica. The frames and other components of the systems was built using local construction material.

Caption: Nursery box built from discarded storage tank at an aquaponics operation in the Bahamas.

Caption: System for Trapping rainwater at Abbey Gardens Farms in Jamaica.

Caption: Use of infant swimming pool as water storage tank at Goodfellow Farms in the Bahamas.

Caption: Low cost aquaponics system built from discarded oil drums and tanks in Trinidad.

Caption: Section of drum used as housing for submerged water pump at aquaponics operation in the Bahamas.

Caption: Collection of waste water from Strawberry production for reuse at Addams Valley Farms Jamaica.

Caption: Denise Worrel and her son Michael, of Naturally Bahamian explaining their backyard aquaponics operation

Caption: IICA model for backyard aquaponics unit in the Bahamas

Caption: Fish food (plant meal or duck weed) Caption: Tilapia produced at Naturally Bahamian aquaponics operation in the Bahamas

Caption: Lester Murray of Adams Valley Farms Jamaica discussing rain water harvesting and use of plant meal as feed for Tilapia.

Caption: Technician at Goodfellow Farms Bahamas explains the design of the rain water harvesting systems.

Caption: Rain water harvesting from greenhouse structures and collection ponds at Adams Valley Farms Jamaica.

Caption: Shacara Lightbourne of the IICA discusses aquaponics training programme and model backyard system in the Bahamas.

Caption: Aquaponics research and demonstration facility at the Eleuthera Island School in the Bahamas.

Caption: Jon Chaiton of Tropics Seafood Bahamas discusses his sustainable aquaponics system made exclusively from discarded construction material.

Caption: Jon Chaiton displays banana grown in aquaponics system.

Caption: Construction of protected structure for aquaponics system alongside conventional production using drip irrigation at Goodfellow Farms Bahamas.

Caption: Production Technician transplanting seedlings into deep water culture aquaponic system at Goodfellow Farms Bahamas.

LEVEL OF ADOPTION AND WHY An increasing amount of practitioners are actively investing

in recirculating systems and water harvesting technologies.

Government institutions are getting on board Establishment of research and demonstration units in selected

countries

Why Sustainable production efficient use of water resources Food security / healthy life style Production for target markets (differentiated product) Research Recreation

Impacts Water conservation

All practitioners who were previously involved in traditional production indicated that they have conserved significant volumes of water (› 30% among cases documented).

Increased food security Owners of private / non commercial systems testify that systems assist in

boosting household food security.

Increased marketability of products Owners of semi commercial and commercial systems reported that they were

able to tap into high end markets.

Reduction in waste Most systems (particularly small home based systems) utilize discarded

construction, manufacturing and industry material in construction (approximately 40 – 60%).

Draft Video (Water Harvesting)

Water conservation All practitioners who were previously involved in traditional

production indicated that they have conserved significant volumes of water.

Increased food security Owners of private / non commercial systems testify that

systems assist in boosting household food security.

Increased marketability of products Owners of semi commercial and commercial systems

reported that they were able to tap into high end markets.