Aquaponic technology in Sierra Leone: Young fish, groundnuts and green pepper

Hi readers, it´s been a while since our last post. Many things happend at our aquaponic project site.
Although the electricity in Freetown is barely available more then 8 hours per day, we still managed to keep the system alive.
The fish even strated to breed and we had many young ones. Through an long lasting power cut of several days, we were forced to eat the big fishes in order to prevent them from dying because of lack of oxygen as the pump did not run. Currently we only have 4 fish left from the offspring. We managed to harvest a ripe chili although the nitrates are currently low. In a few weeks we will install a sustainable solar and wind power system to supply environmental friendly electricity.

Peppers, groundnuts and tomatoes

Although lack of nitrogen, due to very low fish density, the green pepper is growing and will soon end up in the stew

Ginger is growing

Green leaves showing signs of low nitrates. More fish need to be added in the system.

Hawa harvested the first aquaponic groundnuts from the system. Boiled in salt water they are an excellent and healthy snack.

Please also watch our youtube channel with more recent videos about our aquaponic system and the yount tilapia that hatched a few weeks ago.

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.

Salone Aquaponic receives aquaponic manual from FAO

Salone aquaponic staff Rachel Kamara (right) and Hawa Kargbo with Aquaponic manual sent by FAO

A second floor was added to the system, for the NFT system

Any interested party or person can download the manual from the FAO homepage under the following link:

www.fao.org/3/a-i4021e/i4021e00.pdf

Urban aquaponic system shows fast growth of vegetables

Sweet bell pepper showing fast growth. 2 more weeks till harvest!

The urban aquaponic system with various vegetable varieties.

Water melon seedlings coming up.

Urban farming aquaponic kit for food security and improved nutrition

The constructions for the bigger urban farming aquaponic kit are nearly completed. The total costs of the kit including workmanship are 429 USD; all materials could be sourced locally.

Newly transplanted chili peppers in the NFT-system

Organic insecticide: The praying mantis!

The urban farming aquaponic kit: An efficient way to produce delicious food in urban areas

Shade net for aquaponic system enhances plant growth

The net filters the light and lowers the temperature which creates a good growing environment for the plant.

As the dry season approaches, the sun get extremly hot so therefore plants need to be protected. In the coming week we will create a shade tent for our aquaponic system. 

A shading net creates a microclimate and prevents the strong sun to harm the plants.

Urban aquaponic farming for food security

Fish tank and media bed with plants growing

Adding a new species to the system: A catfish, "Schilbeidae" family

8 sqare meter growing space: Media beds and NFT-system

Urban aquaponic farming: Soilless and landless, but productive!