Commercial aquaponic system supported by INCITIS EU funded programme in Sierra Leone

Thanks to funding from the European Union, under the INCITIS project, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Njala University, Agriculture Department we could upgrade our commercial aquaponic greenhouse in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone.

A key learning and positive experince we took was the performance of local crops growing in soiless aquaponic systems, mainly the DMW (Deepwater culture system) and the media bed system filled with granite gravel and LECA light expanded clay substrate. 

For the next phase we plan a NFT nutrient film system to shade the water tanks from direct sunlights, whilst growing crops above the fishtanks, so we utilise each square meter of the greenhouse for production of crops and fish. 

Growing ocra in a gravel based media bed

Young tilapia fingerlings for outgrowing

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!

Harvesting tomatoes and corn from aquaponic

It is harvest time: After 2 months of growth we can harvest the first tomatoes and corn from the aquaponic system. With the aquaponic technology we are able to produce vegetables, like tomatoes and corn throughout the year without depending on the season. Stay tuned.

Fresh tomatoes harvested from the aquaponic system

A huge tomatoe plant growing and bearing many tomatoes

Tomatoes in the aquaponic system is a good source of income and own supply

Building a wooden rack where the tomatoe plants can grow on it

Fresh parsley in the NFT aquaponic system

Large corn (maize) performs well in the aquaponic system

Since we have the NFT system, we never bought parsley again on the market

Young hot pepper seedlings in the media beds.

Our aquaponic garden in Freetown

Aquaponic system in Sierra Leone for vegetables and tilapia rearing

The aquaponic system is producing various herbs and vegetables as well as delicious Tilapia fish, which are a good source of protein. Aquaponic is a good way of mitigating the high food costs in aquaculture by providing extra income from the plants. Furthermore aquaponic systems act as a cost safer, when it comes to filtration: Whilst in traditional aquaculture, filtration to remove nitrates and toxins from the system is an expensive task, also, because of the amount of fresh water to be exchanged in order to maintain water quality. In an aquaponic system, plants act as a bio filter by removing the ammonia and nitrates from the system, while providing extra income for the farmers and also safe fresh water. Aquaponic is a good and sustainable farming solution for Sierra Leone, to provide high quality organic food to people.

Aquaponic system with corn and tomoatoes thriving

DIY fish feed formulation using moringa leaves is beneficial for the fish. The fish feaces provide nutrients for the plants.

Using an underwater camera to assess the health of the tilapia broodstock

Tomatoes growing on gravel media bed

Parsley, tomatoe seedlings and spring onions growing in soilless NFT system

Corn showing fast growth in the gravel media bed

Parsley and carrots growing in the NFT system

Sweet potatoe leaves re-growth after first harvest: Aquaponic allows continoues harvest throughout the dry season

Tomatoes starting to bulb. On;y a few more weeks to harvest.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATIONS ON AQUAPONIC!

Salone Aquaponic system with new tilapia stock and new vegetables started

In order to have a high producing aquaponic system a constant power supply is needed.
The aquaponic system with a new stock of Tilapia (oreochromis niloticus) is beginnig to grow back with new vegetables. The aquaponic system is currently growing parsley, salad, tomatoes, onions, mint, peas, ginger, rice, pineapple, basil and carrots. After installing a solar panel and a battery back up, to sustain prolonged powercuts the system is able to revive productivity throughout the year. Aquaponic has great potential in Africa to produce high class vegetables regionally and cost efficient. Stay tuned for more aquaponic news soon.

Rice seedlings and a pineapple sucker growing in the aquaponic media grow bed

Peas and carrots growing

Young salad seedlings

Parsley is extremly valuable in Sierra Leone and has a high market price

Adding a 100 watts solar panel to power the 10 watts pump on cloudy skies during rainy season

A solar charger and back up battery to sustain power cuts in the aquaponic system

New stock of Tilapia for the aquaponic system

Urban aquaponic fish and vegetable farming in Sierra Leone

Growing local green leaves (cren cren) in the NFT system

80 holes NFT system for continous production of leafy greens

Tomatoes thriving in the aquaponic system. The system deliver enough nutrients for the nutrient demanding tomatoes.

We have planted a young cocoa seedling, which we found behind our house. As we can see, the tree has started to produce fresh leaves. This is the first cocoa tree that grows in an aquaponic system.

Peanuts growing well in the aquaponic system

The tilapia have breeded and now we have many youg fish in our tank.

Ginger is growing

Tomatoes growing through NFT system

Young pepper seedlings

The aquaponic system. A total of 8 square meter growing space and 250 liter fish tank. We have put the NFT system on top of the gravel beds to save space and maximise growing space.

Tilapia and catfish produce the nutrients for the plants to grow

Looking forward to harvest sweet water melon in a few months.