Researchers at the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFRRI) have launched an improved portable micro garden to support farming in urban areas. NaFRRI is under the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).
The vertical garden is made out of wood, forming a rectangle with a number of staircases. Each staircase is designed with 12 holes to support the planting of vegetables. The middle of the garden is designed with a decomposing chamber to generate organic fertilizers.
Maria Goretti Naiga one of the researchers notes that the system is intended to help urban dwellers carry out farming in limited space. She explains that the vertical garden is portable in case one intends to shift from one place to another.
“A full one has seven trays and each tray has 12 holes making them 84. And apart from that, we have a base where you can also put others more and on top. So in total, you can be able to grow about 150 crops. Our micro garden apart from that it has the funicle decomposing chamber for cultivating earthworms,” said Naiga.
NARO research director Barbra Zawedde says that the garden is suitable mostly for growing vegetables and Irish potatoes. She says it has been piloted in Buganda region in Masaka, Mukono, Kampala and soon shall be introduced to other parts of the country.
Hillary Agaba the executive director NaFFRI says as the institute they are coming up with new seeds to ensure that those that are not disease resistant are not brought back on the market.
“Covid-19 has not spared research, laboratory-based work as we had to allow minimum staff to come and work which has stalled the research,” he said. “However, we have been able to work with ICT to do what is possible.”
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