Planting 15 essential food items at home just got easier through a new hydroponic kit introduced by Smart Farms Fiji.

Smart Farms Fiji, a home-based agriculture service operating out of Lautoka, has established an initiative to help families grow vegetables at home.

Founder Rinesh Sharma believes the kits are a solution to every Fijian’s daily nutritional need for leafy green vegetables during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I deploy commercial hydroponic systems.

“Thousands of Fijians are suffering because of the absence of healthy vegetables in their diet.”

Mr Sharma said the initiative involved more than just planting food.

“It’s also about taking leadership and ownership for the development of their families.

“Every home grower will spend a minimum of five minutes a week on this system.

“No consultation or training is required as the processes involved are as simple as watering a garden.”

Hydroponics kit

The kit contains 15 seedlings that take minutes to plant at home.

The kit also consists of a water tank, net cups, soil nutrient solutions and a printed guideline over the proper uses of each item.

Mr Sharma said: “With our course and a hydroponics kit, we are able to generate new hydroponic farmers who can operate a hydroponic system just for personal use, or for sales in their respective communities.”

The kit contains seedlings lettuce, cabbage, kale, mint and basil.

Mr Sharma said the future in farming was in hydroponics, because it allowed for consistent supply of crops, essential greens and had a high turnover.

Hydroponic farming

Hydroponic farming helps plants absorb nutrients at a faster rate, thus leading to early harvest, Mr Sharma said.

“The harvest time for cabbage is about 23 days.

“The rest of the plants, like kale, mint, basil, lettuce, can remain in the hydroponics system for two months,” he said.

Mr Sharma hopes that during coronavirus, people would take the lead in growing their own food at home and practise healthy lifestyles.

Customers interested in the hydroponic kit can contact Smart Farms Fiji on their Facebook page or pre-order by calling 9120549/ 7275867.

Feedback: laiseana.nasiga@fijisun.com.fj