Maximize Agribusiness and Hydroponics Commercial Growers Course

1. History of Hydroponics
2. What is the hydroponics concept (Culture)?
3. Why hydroponics culture differs from conventional agriculture.
4. Methods used in hydroponics culture.
5. Future of Hydroponics technology.

1. Plant parts and function.
2. How water and nutrients are mobilized.
3. Root-zone.
4. Vegetative and productive stages.
5. Pollination.
6. Flower and fruit.

1. Photosynthesis
2. The chemistry of nutrients
3. Water pH and its implication on plant chemical balance
4. Plant metabolism

LIGHT

1. 1. The effect of light on plant development.
   2. Light effect on plants (seasons, photoperiods)

NUTRIENTS –Essentials of hydroponics nutrients and how to produce it

1. Understanding nutrients chemistry
2. Definition of nutrients
3. Macro and Micronutrients roll in plant functioning
4. Electrical conductivity (EC)
5. pH and its relation to nutrients
6. Water quality and water toxicity
7. Nutrients deficiencies- guideline

TEMPERATURE

1. Climate and its effect on plants
2. Understanding temperatures values in relation to season and day/night

OXYGEN

1. Why plants need Oxygen
2. The mechanism of oxygen at the plant root zone

CO2

1. The importance of CO2 availability to plant development
2. The CO2 chemical dynamics in plants photosynthesis

UNDERCOVER GROWING (Controlled Environment)

1. Climatic conditions in the tunnel
2. The importance of controlling temperature, humidity, and other factors

Materials: Demonstration of light effect on plant (plant sample)

Characteristics of Growing Media

1. Water holding capacity (WHC)
2. Porosity
3. Sources (Organic vs Non Organic)
4. Cation exchange capacity. (CEC)

Organic Media

1. Coir
2. Sawdust (wood shavings)
3. Tree Bark

Non-organic Media

1. Perlite
2. Vermiculite
3. Rock-Wool
4. Sand
5. Gravel

Working with various Growing Media

1. Consideration of chosen media
2. Choosing the preferred irrigation system due to growing media
3. Preparations of various growing media
4. Maintaining various growing media

Trough Culture

1. General principles
2. Advantages and disadvantages

Flood and Drain

1. General Principles.
2. Advantages and Disadvantages

Passive Hydroponics

1. General Principles

Drip Irrigation

1. General Principles
2. Various drip irrigation options
3. Irrigation strategies
4. Control and maintenance

Aeroponics

1. General principle
2. Advantages and disadvantages

Aquaponics

1. General principle
2. Advantages and disadvantages

Hydroponics Growing Methods

1. Trough culture
2. Bag Culture
3. Gutter culture
4. Container culture

Materials: Visiting various operating systems. 

Irrigation and Nutrients Program

1. Structuring Irrigation Strategy
2. Climatic analysis
3. Plant growing stage
4. Consulting parameters (EC & pH)
5. Structuring Nutrients program
6. Nature of crop and specific crop requirements (Cultivar & Variety)
7. Plant growing stage
8. Climatic conditions

General Understanding of Hydroponics/Soil-less Farming 

1. Practicable and accessible hydroponics substrates in Nigeria
2. Different Hydroponics system design
3. Greenhouse technology and analysis 

The Fodder system 

1. How to build a functional hydroponics vegetable system
2. How to grow your own Fresh feed within 6-9 days and sack your feed mill
3. Wealth creation avenues in the Nigerian Hydroponics industry.

Crop Control & Maintenance

1. Handling plants growing in control environment.
2. Support and trellises.
3. Scouting and observations.
4. IPM- Pest management.
5. Plants nutrients deficiencies symptoms.

Market Analysis

1. Parameters to consider that influence crop selection.
2. Choosing cultivar/variety (Case: Azolla and Stevia)
3. Timing
4. Pricing
5. Distance from main target market
6. Packaging

Market segment and Financial considerations

1. Fresh vegetables.
2. Leafy crops.
3. Cut flowers.
4. Seedlings production.

Assignment: The second part of the final day is mainly about producing a business plan, which includes all the financial considerations. Each student focusing on his own “project” and together a general business plan calculation is completed and produced.