Aquaponic in Sierra Leone: Project progress and lessons learnt

The Salone Aquaponic project is now ongoing for over 3 years. We installed a first test system at the Salone Aquaponic office in Freetown. Expansion plans are made to further expand the system to a commercial viable operation. Several hotels, businesses and private customers have expressed their strong interest in pruchasing fresh and organically produced local vegetables and herbs. Here are some pictures from our current crops. The arabic mint is performing great with good taste!

The aquaponic system on our veranda at the Freetown office

Arabic mint is performing great in the aquaponic system. The mint leaves give a great tea and spice up your salads, like tabouleh and couscous salad.

Italian basil, a intensive flavour, great for pizza, pasta and salads.

Garden egg growing in the media beds

Garden egg flowering in the aquaponic system

Aquaponic farming: The sustainable way of fish and vegetable production

Aquaponic offer 2 benefits in one: It produces delicious fish, like Tilapia and also produces fresh vegetables by converting the fish poop to organic fertilizer. Especially in development countries, aquaponic can be a new way of farming, in areas of low soil fertility or in urban areas.

Mint and onions growing in the media beds.

Delicious fresh mint has a high market price in Sierra Leone. It can be used for fresh tea and for salads.

Parsley grow excessevly in the NFT system. It produces more than we can eat. Parsley can be fed to the Tilapia

Growing a papaya tree in aquaponics media bed

Good bearing tomato plant. In a few weeks we harvest another 10 - 15 tomatoes.

Spring onions growing in the NFT system

Also a carrot is growing in the NFT system.

Aquaponic Tilapia farming in West Africa

Parsley, onions, mint and tomatoe update on aquaponics

Here are some updates on the aquaponic system in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Parsley, onions, mint and tomatoes are growing well... Looking forward to sell the parsley from the NFT system to a nearby restaurant soon!

Aquaponic parsley growing in the NFT system

Tomato plant harvested, one tomatoe still left!!!

Real onions and mint growing in the media bed.

Tomatoes are a real opportunity due to their demand and high market price

Pepper plant having plenty of mealy bugs but still bearing fruit. The pepper was an imported hybrid variety. next time we go with the local seeds!